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The political feud between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Lieutenant Governor (LG) of Delhi, VK Saxena, has reached a new impasse with the AAP's refusal to participate in the election for the sixth seat on the Standing Committee of Delhi's civic body. The election, originally scheduled for 1 pm on Friday, was adjourned by Mayor Shelly Oberoi until October 5th, citing constitutional and legal objections to the timing and manner of the election.
The controversy arose when LG Saxena insisted on holding the election at 10 pm on Thursday night, despite the AAP's objections and the Mayor's declaration of the election as unconstitutional. This late-night election call, with less than an hour's notice, was deemed inappropriate and disruptive by the AAP, who pointed out that their councilors had already gone home. The AAP alleges that this last-minute pressure tactic is an attempt to manipulate the election in favor of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which currently holds two seats on the Standing Committee.
The Standing Committee plays a crucial role in financial decision-making for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). Currently, the committee is dominated by the AAP with three members, while the BJP holds two seats. Filling the vacant sixth seat, which arose after BJP's Kamaljeet Sehrawat was elected to the Lok Sabha, could potentially tip the balance in favor of the BJP, granting them a majority. The AAP has vehemently accused the LG of orchestrating this eleventh-hour election to benefit the BJP and undermine their control over the Standing Committee.
The BJP has countered by demanding that the seat be filled as per the Supreme Court's direction, warning of a contempt petition against the AAP and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal if the vacancy remains unfilled. This standoff highlights the deep political divide between the AAP and the BJP in Delhi, with both parties accusing each other of undermining democratic processes and using administrative powers for partisan gains. The outcome of this contentious election will have significant implications for the governance of Delhi and the power dynamics between the elected government and the LG.
The political tensions surrounding this election have further intensified the ongoing power struggle between the AAP government and the LG. This clash underscores the complex relationship between the elected government and the appointed administrator in Delhi, a point of contention that has been the subject of legal battles and political debates for years. The current deadlock over the Standing Committee seat has once again brought this issue to the forefront, demonstrating the high stakes involved in even seemingly mundane administrative decisions. The future of the Standing Committee and the larger political landscape in Delhi remain uncertain, pending the resolution of this impasse.
Source: AAP Says "Nothing Today" In Row Over Delhi Civic Body Panel Poll