House adjourned again: No Mayor for now

BJP should accept MCD poll defeat, ensure smooth Mayoral election, says Sisodia

- SATVIKA MAHAJAN

NEW DELHI: 

For the second time this month, Delhi’s bid to elect Mayor and Deputy Mayor was derailed as the House was adjourned till further notice by the L-G-appointed Presiding Officer following a ruckus by some councillors.

The adjournment prompted councillors, 13 MLAs and three Rajya Sabha MPs of the Aam Aadmi Party to sit on a dharna for nearly four hours against the BJP at the Civic Centre, demanding immediate polls.

The day began with the oath-taking of 249 councillors amid unusual heavy deployment of civil defence personnel and marshals. Paramilitary personnel, who were equipped with anti-riot equipment, were also deployed outside the House.

Presiding Officer Satya Sharma administered the oath to the nominated members before the elected representatives of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi.

It was adjourned minutes before voting for Mayor’s election could begin due to sloganeering from BJP and AAP. Earlier this month, the House was adjourned due to severe chaos and unruly behaviour from both parties. On January 6, the inaugural House had barely begun when clashes between AAP and BJP ensued, no councillors were sworn in during the session.

There were brief interruptions and friendly sloganeering from both sides during the oath of councillors, including religious slogans like ‘Jai Shri Ram’, ‘Allah Hu Akbar’ and ‘Wahe Guru Da Khalsa Wahe Guru Di Fateh’ but all councillors were able to finish taking their oath by 2.20 pm.