Delhi Mayor Election: LG Saxena Approves Proposal To Hold Poll On February 16

The Delhi mayoral election was originally set on January 6. However, the House has seen multiple adjournments due to clashes between AAP and BJP members over letting Lt governor's aldermen vote.

Lt Governor of Delhi Vinai Kumar Saxena with Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal | File Photo: PTI

New Delhi: Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena has approved the proposal to convene elections for Delhi's Mayor, Deputy Mayor, and members of the standing committee on February 16.

"As recommended by Delhi CM, I approve proposal to convene adjourned first meeting of Municipal Corporation of Delhi on Thursday, 16th February at Dr SP Mukherjee Civic Centre for election of Mayor, Dy. Mayor and six members of the Standing Committee," the Delhi LG stated, as per news agency ANI.

Previously, the Delhi government and the MCD set February 16 as the date for elections for Delhi's Mayor, Deputy Mayor, and members of the standing committee, ANI reported.

The proposal was further sent to Delhi LG for final approval.

The Delhi administration, led by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, had asked Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena to hold mayoral elections on February 13 and 14.

However, when the Delhi civic body said that a hearing on this subject is pending before the Supreme Court on February 13, the Kejriwal government agreed to the MCD's plan to hold mayoral elections on February 16.

Earlier, the Supreme Court had requested comments from L-G, the MCD presiding officer, and others on a petition to hold the mayoral elections sooner.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) filed a petition with the Supreme Court on Tuesday, a day after the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) House failed to elect a mayor, deputy mayor, and standing committee members for the MCD for the third time due to a scuffle.

The AAP even protested outside the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) headquarters over the postponement of the Mayoral election for the Delhi civic body.

Both the AAP and the BJP have accused each other of postponing the mayoral elections. The appointment of aldermen and their voting privileges in the House is the key cliffhanger.

The AAP has objected to the presiding officer's statement that the lieutenant governor's aldermen will vote in the election.

The AAP, which has a majority in the Delhi civic body with 134 out of 250 elected members, said that the BJP was attempting to steal its mandate by granting voting powers to nominated members.

The Delhi mayoral election was originally set on January 6. However, the House has seen multiple adjournments due to clashes between AAP and BJP members.