The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the BJP engaged in a massive brawl during the first meeting of the newly elected civic body, which put the Delhi Mayor election on hold.
New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the BJP engaged in a massive brawl during the first meeting of the newly elected civic body, which put the Delhi Mayor election on hold.
Rival councillors shouted slogans targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Arvind Kejriwal. The election was postponed until further notice.
AAP and BJP supporters could be seen pushing and hitting one another, tumbling to the ground, and climbing up on desks in the MCD Civic Centre during the meeting of Delhi’s second-largest decision-making body.
The protests took place when Satya Sharma, the temporary Speaker appointed by Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, swore in the nominated members of the house, or aldermen.
The moment Mr. Sharma called on an alderman of the house to take the oath, tension escalated as AAP MLAs and councillors rushed to the centre of the house and started a severe protest. AAP members claimed that elected councillors should have taken the oath before the nominated members.
The Lieutenant Governor had already come under fire from the AAP for appointing 10 MCD-nominated members without consulting the Delhi government.
Today’s brawl comes after a string of altercations between the AAP and the Lieutenant Governor, who represents the Center in Delhi and reports to the Union Home Minister.
AAP has repeatedly accused the Lieutenant Governor of helping the BJP, which lost the December (MCD) municipal election after three terms in power.
In a letter posted on Twitter yesterday, AAP leader and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal accused the Lieutenant Governor of deliberately choosing 10 nominated members who were allied with the BJP.
Following the announcement of the nominees, Mr. Saxena appointed BJP councillor Satya Sharma as acting Speaker to preside over today’s election. AAP had proposed the name of Mukesh Goyal, the senior-most councilor for the post.
It is tradition to nominate the senior-most member of the House as pro-tem Speaker or presiding officer.
“BJP is hell-bent on destroying all democratic traditions and institutions,” tweeted AAP MLA Saurabh Bhardwaj.
