HOUSE FRACTURE

AAP’s insistence of unimpeded governance while the chief minister is lodged in jail was challenged once again after the L-G refused to nominate the presiding officer for the MCD mayoral polls without consulting’ the former. Amid the ensuing political slugfest over the impasse, Prabhat Shukla analyses what exactly is holding up the civic body from discharging its duties

LATE evening, Thursday, April 25; less than 24 hours to go before the scheduled MCD mayoral elections, the civic body issues an order postponing the polls. 'The election is subject to clearance from the Election Commission and the nomination of the presiding officer. Even though the poll body has assented to the polls for election of the new mayor and deputy mayor of the municipal corporation, the appointment of the presiding officer has not taken place,' the civic body order says.

"Since the nomination of the presiding officer is mandatory as per Section 77(a) of the DMC Act, 1957 (as amended in 2022), therefore, it may not be possible to conduct elections of the mayor and deputy mayor as per schedule," the notice read.

Earlier in the evening. The Raj Niwas has issued a letter on behalf of the Lieutenant Governor, VK Saxena, to the chief secretary. "These are peculiar and unprecedented circumstances," the letter reads.

"The serving chief minister is under judicial custody in a corruption case and therefore cannot discharge his functions." The tone of the letter is blunt. The L-G does not intend to mince his words. "There is no scintilla of doubt that taking such a decision in the absence of inputs from the chief minister would be grossly inappropriate both in terms of law and propriety." "I do not deem it appropriate to exercise my power as administrator to appoint the presiding officer." This is where the letter leaves us.

THE CONTENTION

The Aam Aadmi Party; majority in the MCD House. 'The L-G Secretariat cancelled the polls.' 'After all, he was authority for the appointment of the presiding officer.' AAP had set the crosshair on the L-G. We can well assume where they targeted next.