New Delhi: Rowdy behaviour continued in the Delhi Municipal Corporation Friday – three days in a row – as ruling AAP councillors clashed with BJP men over the election of six members to the civic body’s highest-decision making body, the standing committee.
Councillors jostled, manhandled each other and even threw punches, resulting in AAP councillor Ashok Kumar Maanu collapsing in the middle of it all.
Delhi | A Councillor collapses at Delhi Civic Centre as clashes break out here between AAP and BJP Councillors. pic.twitter.com/oGWuAic7h5
— ANI (@ANI) February 24, 2023
He said the BJP men were “so shameless” that they even attacked women, including Mayor Shelly Oberoi.
#WATCH | Delhi: AAP Councillor, Ashok Kumar Maanu who collapsed at Delhi Civic Centre minutes back, appears before media with other Councillors of his party.
They say, "They are so shameless that they attacked even women and the Mayor. BJP goons did this." pic.twitter.com/dbz4xE8FW9
— ANI (@ANI) February 24, 2023
The disorderly conduct began as soon as Oberoi declared one vote invalid among the six to be elected to the key committee.
After Oberoi’s decision, the BJP interrupted the counting of votes, but she insisted that results would be declared even without the invalid vote.
The BJP shouted that if that vote was counted as invalid, then according to their calculation, the AAP would win.
Earlier, BJP members climbed atop tables and said that they would not allow a recount of the votes.
Newly-elected mayor Shelly Oberoi said she would declare the result without the invalid vote since one side wanted the counting, and the other opposed it.
At least 242 of the 250 elected councillors voted to elect the six members to the committee deciding project expenditure.
The AAP’s candidates were Aamil Malik, Raminder Kaur, Mohini Jeenwal and Sarika Chaudhary. The BJP fielded Kamaljeet Sehrawat and Pankaj Luthra. Independent councillor Gajender Singh Daral, who joined the BJP, was also a candidate.
On 22 February, Delhi got its mayor and deputy mayor in the fourth attempt since the civic body polls took place in early December. Three previous House sessions had to be cancelled over the AAP’s objection to nominated members voting. They contended that these members, nominated by the Lieutenant Governor who reports to the Centre, would skew numbers in favour of the BJP in the standing committee elections.
AAP moved to the Supreme Court, which then ruled that the Constitution did not allow nominated members to vote.
Also read: AAP, BJP councillors throw boxes, exchange blows amid MCD standing committee elections