NEW DELHI: A brawl was reported from the Delhi Civic Centre during the election for the six members of the Standing Committee. The drama, which started shortly after the mayoral results, continued into the early hours of Thursday.
Visuals of the chaotic scenes from the centre showed councillors screaming, jostling and punching, as others doused them with bottled water. Ballot boxes were also thrown into the Well disrupting the proceedings for at least eight times.
Last night, Delhi’s new Mayor Shelly Oberoi alleged that she was attacked by BJP councillors while conducting the election. The BJP claimed that they were only trying to discuss the matter with the Mayor. Visuals from the spot showed BJP councillors climbing the stage and surrounding the mayor amid the uproar. “BJP Councillors just tried to attack me while I was conducting the Standing Committee elections, as per Supreme Court orders! This is the extent of BJP’s Gundagardi that they are trying to attack a woman Mayor,” tweeted the Mayor.
The BJP officials in response stated that they had gone to talk to the mayor and nothing else.
Sources said the trouble started as an altercation between the Aam Aadmi Party and the BJP over allegations that some members were carrying cellphones during the voting. It should ne noted thay carrying of pens and cellphones was not permitted during the election for the posts of mayor and deputy mayor.
The election for the Standing Committee started late this evening, hours after the election for the Mayor and the Deputy Mayor. Both posts went to AAP, which has 150 votes in the 274-member house — way above the majority mark of 138.
The election was postponed for the fourth time since December to accommodate the Supreme Court hearing on the issue. The court had ruled out voting for aldermen, saying the constitutional provision is “very clear”.