Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj on Sunday said that Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi approved April 26 as the date for the election of the new Mayor of The Municipal Corporation of Delhi. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)'s Shelly Oberoi completed her 38-day tenure at the Mayoral post on March 31. As per the norms, the poll process for electing a new mayor needs to be completed before April 30.
"To my knowledge, it is necessary to make an election in April. Incumbent Mayor has set April 26 as the date for this," Delhi government minister and AAP leader Saurabh Bhardwaj told news agency ANI.
"I hope for the election to be held in a peaceful manner if all rules and regulations are followed by LG Office," he added.
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According to ANI's report, the Delhi minister also attacked Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Vinai Kumar Saxena and said, "It was very unfortunate that LG nominated a presiding officer for the mayoral election who created hurdles in smooth conduct of the poll." "They even tried to allow nominated members (aldermen) to vote against the constitution, for which the Supreme Court slammed them," he alleged.
"The court said that it was wrong. That's why it would like to request that only the right person should be chosen to hold the mayoral election," he added.
Saurabh Bhardwaj also suggested that the deputy mayor can be made the pro-tem presiding officer, who can conduct the election of the mayor.
As per the report, he refrained from commenting about the name of the party candidate for the Mayor Post.
"The matter regarding standing committee members' election is pending in the court. I have no idea about the party's candidate for the mayor post, and a final decision on the same will be taken by the party's high command," he told ANI.
Earlier the year, Shelly Oberoi was elected mayor of Delhi in the fourth attempt after much ruckus between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Aam Aadmi Party.
The previous three attempts to elect the Mayor failed due to disruptions by the AAP and the BJP. They met for the first time on January 6, second on January 24 and last on February 6.
In December last year, the AAP won 134 seats out of 250.