Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: In a major victory for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Sundar Singh Tanwar was nominated to the 18th and final seat of the Delhi Municipal Corporation’s Standing Committee on Friday, cementing the party’s control over the powerful body. Tanwar, who secured 115 votes, will help the BJP wield significant influence over the panel, which is responsible for key financial decisions in the municipal body.
Tanwar’s victory comes after both the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress decided to stay away from the election. With all 115 of the BJP’s councillors voting, Tanwar won the election uncontested, though AAP is expected to challenge the result in court. The BJP now controls 10 of the 18 seats on the Standing Committee, including the Chair, which will give the party major leverage in city administration.
AAP’s Boycott and Legal Concerns
AAP, which holds 125 councillors in the Municipal Corporation, chose to boycott the election, calling it “illegal” and accusing the Lieutenant Governor, VK Saxena, of bypassing the Mayor’s authority. Had AAP participated, the party would likely have secured control of the Standing Committee, assuming no defections.
Ex-Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia called the election unconstitutional, declaring that “there is nothing today” as AAP refused to engage. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal echoed these concerns, stating, “It is written in the law… only the Mayor has the right to call a sitting of the House.” He criticized the 1 pm election time, calling it an attempt to undermine democratic processes.
Congress Also Abstains
The Congress, which holds nine seats, also chose to abstain from the voting process, further solidifying the BJP’s victory.
Lieutenant Governor’s Role and Election Controversy
The election followed a series of conflicts between the AAP-led Delhi government and Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena. The AAP accused Mr. Saxena of trying to manipulate the process by summoning a late-night voting session on Thursday. Mayor Shelly Oberoi had labeled the election “unconstitutional and illegal,” but Mr. Saxena directed the MCD Commissioner to proceed with the election under the Deputy Mayor’s supervision.
The controversy stems from the vacancy created after BJP’s Kamaljeet Sehrawat resigned to contest in the Lok Sabha elections. AAP has repeatedly clashed with the Lieutenant Governor over the governance of the national capital, and this election has become yet another flashpoint in the ongoing power struggle.
