'BJP Working To Oust Delhi Govt': Gopal Rai After Mayoral Elections Abruptly Called Off

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Delhi Minister Gopal Rai today said that the Lieutenant Governor’s office orchestrated the cancellation of the mayoral polls.

File Photo Of Gopal Rai

Source : PTI Images

In a strong criticism, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Delhi Minister Gopal Rai on Saturday said that the cancellation of the mayoral polls was orchestrated by the Lieutenant Governor’s office. He further said that the entire episode was carried out under a larger political agenda aimed at undermining the Delhi government and Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). 

“The entire nation saw how Mayor poll was conducted...This time he (Delhi L-G) has cancelled the Mayoral polls indicating in a way, that BJP is working to oust the Delhi government, similarly, they are attempting to do the same with MCD as well," Gopal Rai told ANI. 

#WATCH | Delhi: On the postponement of Delhi Mayoral poll which was scheduled to be held on April 26, AAP leader and Delhi Minister Gopal Rai says, "As far as MCD is concerned, the entire nation saw how Mayor poll was conducted...This time he (Delhi L-G) has cancelled the Mayoral… pic.twitter.com/PB5EH0FIn0

— ANI (@ANI) April 27, 2024

On Friday, The MCD announced the sudden cancellation of the mayoral elections scheduled to take place on April 26, citing the absence of a presiding officer. 

Another AAP leader Durgesh Pathak had alleged that the Lieutenant Governor’s office intervened to cancel the polls, despite prior permission from the Election Commission. "The BJP got this election cancelled despite there being permission from the Election Commission. The LG office has cancelled the polls saying he works on the advice of the chief minister. There have been previous instances where he has not followed the aid and advice of the chief minister," he said.

The cancellation notice issued by the MCD cited the mandatory requirement of appointing a Presiding Officer under Section 77(a) of the DMC Act, 1957. Consequently, the election of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor, slated as item no. 3&4 on the agenda, stands postponed. 

Delhi Minister, also an AAP leader, Saurabh Bharadwaj had raised suspicion of a conspiracy. “But the way the chief secretary bypassed the elected government and directly sent the file to the L-G office, we can smell conspiracy. L-G office did not give any reply and he is in Kerala now," he said.

AAP has nominated Mahesh Khichi for the position of mayor and Ravinder Bhardwaj for deputy mayor, with the mayoral post reserved for a candidate from a reserved category in the second term. 

READ | MCD Elections: AAP Names Dev Nagar Councillor Its Candidate For Delhi Mayor Polls