NEW DELHI: The melee over the election of the mayor and deputy mayor of Delhi Municipal Corporation on Tuesday wasn’t limited just to the House. After the sitting was adjourned without polling, the political drama continued long after.After the adjournment of the House at the Civic Centre, BJP councillors engaged in sloganeering outside the chamber. When the animated AAP and BJP councillors appeared too close for comfort, police personnel had to intervene. Soon after, BJP members sat down in protest for about an hour, bearing placards with anti-AAP slogans like ‘Kejriwal ke gundo, gundagardi chhor do’.While the BJP members were shouting slogans, AAP’s Sanjay Singh, Durgesh Pathak and Atishi occupied another corner on the same floor. Rajya Sabha member Singh said, “The media has all the video footage showing AAP councillors sitting quietly in the House and BJP councillors engaging in verbal duels, abusing us and inciting a fight leading to the sitting being adjourned. Why? Because the BJP wants to kill democracy.”Singh added, “Our party has 134 councillors, three MPs and 13 MLAs and one independent supporter, which means 151 votes whether the PM comes here or the lieutenant governor. BJP couldn’t have won the mayor’s election, that’s why they got the House adjourned. We want the LG to decide the time for the election today itself.”In a dramatic gesture, Pathak, who is the AAP functionary in charge of MCD, conducted a head count of AAP supporters, making it explicit that his party had the numbers.After the count, Pathak said, “We appeal to BJP to accept the people’s vote and allow the mayor to be elected. Delhiites should get their mayor today.” The AAP councillors raised their hands and seconded this proposal.MLA Atishi said, “The LG has the power to fix the date for fresh elections. He should immediately sign the file and get the election done. The people of Delhi, who voted for sanitation, are waiting for the corporation to start functioning.”AAP held a press briefing in the evening. “If BJP has even the slightest faith in democracy and the Constitution, it should accept that the people of Delhi have voted against them and allow the mayoral polls to take place,” said deputy CM Manish Sisodia.Accusing BJP of trying to remain in power in MCD in an unconstitutional manner, Sisodia said, “Delhi’s people defeated BJP in the municipal elections because of corruption. Now, fearing defeat in the mayoral elections, the BJP councillors are deliberately creating a ruckus in the House.”The deputy CM said all AAP councillors, MLAs and MPs were present in the House and the election should be held immediately.
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/high-drama-head-count-war-of-words/articleshow/97289423.cms