#BJP – ruled three MCDs of adopting unconstitutional methods to capture power in the different zonal committees : #Congress

NEW DELHI, May 10—Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) president Shri Arvinder Singh, MLA today accused the BJP-ruled three MCDs of adopting unconstitutional methods to capture power in the different zonal committees as the BJP was not only defying the constitutional organsations, but was also refusing to accept the Delhi Municial Corporation Act, as given in the Constitution. Shri Arvinder Singh said this while addressing a press conference held at the DPCC office, Rajiv Bhawan, here today. Among those present at the press conference were senior leader and chief spokesperson of the DPCC Shri Mukesh Sharma, and the Opposition leaders in the MCDs Shri Mukesh Goel, Shri Farhad Suri and Smt. Varyam Kaur.

Shri Arvinder Singh said the Lt. Governor of Delhi had nominated through a gazette notification 30 aldermen in all the three MCDs, and according DMC Act 50, it has been specified that these aldermen can not only cast their votes but have also the right to contest for posts of Zonal Committee chairman and vice-chairman. He said the DMC Act also specifies that they have the right to vote and contest for the Standing Committee elections of the MCD.

Shri Arvinder Singh asserted at the press conference that it was surpring that despite Delhi Government’s director of local bodies Shri Rajendra Kumar and the legal department of the Delhi Government noting that the aldermen had the same rights as the elected councilors, these aldermen were being denied their democratic right to cast their votes. Shri Arvinder Singh said the BJP had lost the deputy mayor’s election in South Delhi, and their candidate for the mayoral election had won by just one, and rattled by these developments, the BJP was denying these aldermen their voting right.

Shri Arvinder Singh said on the one hand, the BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Shri Narendra Modi was talking about democratic rights, and on the other hand democratic traditions were being throttled in the MCDs, formed under the Panchayati Raj. He warned that the Congress will not keep silent on these issues, and will not accept these unconstitutional measures. He said all the three commissioners in the three MCDs were functioning under pressure from the BJP, and because of that, despite the Government order, the aldermen were deprived of their voting rights.

East Delhi MCD alderman Shri Pramod Kumar said all the 30 aldermen have sought time to meet the Lt. Governor of Delhi, and if the need arises, all the 30 aldermen will not shy away from holding agitations to secure their just democratic rights.