MCD Mayor Polls: Delhi CM Kejriwal Approves Mukesh Goyal As Presiding Officer

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal has approved the appointment of Mukesh Goyal, a senior AAP councillor, as the presiding officer for the MCD mayor election.

File Photo Of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal ( Image Source :PTI )

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has approved the appointment of Mukesh Goyal, a senior AAP councillor, as the presiding officer for the election of the mayor of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). In a tweet, Kejriwal stated that the file for the appointment of the presiding officer had been sent to Lt Governor VK Saxena for approval.

Mayor election due on 26 Apr. In accordance wid past tradition, I approved name of Sh Mukesh Goyal, seniormost councillor as presiding officer for session to elect Mayor n Dy Mayor. Sent file to LG. Decision is binding on LG unless he decides to refer the matter to President

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) April 21, 2023

In February, the AAP dispensation fought Saxena's decision to appoint BJP councillor Satya Sharma as the presiding officer tooth and nail. Sharma conducted the elections for mayor despite stiff protests from AAP counsellors and leaders in the MCD House. The AAP had also objected to the Lt Governor's appointment of ten aldermen (honorary councillors) to the MCD.

The new mayoral election in Delhi is scheduled for late April. 

Shelly Oberoi, an AAP councillor, was elected mayor of Delhi on February 22. By 34 votes, she defeated BJP candidate Rekha Gupta. Out of a total of 266 votes cast, Oberoi received 150 votes and Gupta received 116 votes.

The voting took place at the Civic Centre, the headquarters of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).

After previous elections were halted due to a squabble over voting rights for nominated members, the mayor of Delhi was elected in the fourth attempt. The city elects a new mayor at the end of the fiscal year.

The mayor of the nation's capital is elected to a five-year term on a rotating basis, with the first year reserved for women, the second for the open category, the third for the reserved category, and the remaining two for the open category. Mayors' terms have also been extended in the past, according to PTI.