The Aam Aadmi Party in December last year won the Municipal Corporation of Delhi ending the 15-year rule of the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP). With the win, AAP formed a double-engine government in the national capital. However, the election battle didn’t end there and BJP, AAP engaged in a severe fight when the MCD convened to elect the mayor and the standing committee members. The tussle was so intense that the Supreme Court had to intervene after AAP filed a plea to conduct the polls. 


After much ruckus, Delhi finally got its mayor. An educationist, a professor and now a mayor – Dr. Shelly Oberoi emerged as the winner of everything that AAP fought for. Delhi got its first woman mayor after a decade. Oberoi stepped into the footsteps of legendary Aruna Asaf Ali who held the post when MCD came into existence in 1958. 


In an exclusive interview with ABP Live, the mayor discussed a range of topics that are important as far as the MCD is concerned. 


AAP’s Election Performance And Mayoral Polls 


Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi said that BJP knew it would lose the MCD polls because ‘they did nothing’ in the last 15 years. "They were very much aware that they're not going to win and that the Aam Aadmi party will get the mandate from the Delhi people," she said. 


She said that the BJP ‘deliberately’ did the delimitation to reduce the number of wards and purposefully postponed the polls. 


Speaking on the chaos that hit the mayoral elections several times, Oberoi held the BJP responsible for the same. She said, "The elections were held at that time, and it was only the Bharatiya Janta party that was creating chaos. They wanted to run the house in an unconstitutional way and ultimately truth always wins. We had to approach Supreme Court...and we are also thankful to the judiciary system which, irrespective of the political parties, gave the verdict without any biases. So, we are really thankful to the judiciary system and as well as Hon’ble Delhi CM." 


 


MCD Is Not Self-Sufficient: Mayor Shelly Oberoi 


Mayor Oberoi said that in July this year, for the first time in over a decade, the workers of the MCD received salary on time. She said that this was made possible by AAP first time after 2010 and 'MCD workers are very happy' about it.


"...as far as the salary is concerned, it's after 2010 that every employee of MCD from group A to group D, it means from officer level till the lower level employees, they have got the salary on first of the month this year. The Bharatiya Janta Party was always unsuccessful in doing such kind of things in favour of employees," she told ABP Live.


She added, "...I think the employees are very happy. So many unions and so many employees approached us, thanking us...and I'm assuring them that in future, we will also try our best to fulfill all their demands."


On the issue of regularisation of sanitation workers, Dr. Oberoi said that they are working on the regularisation, adding "last month, few of the employees were regularised and the offer letters were given to them. Now, we are seeking their medical certificates as well as a police verification and in the coming days, we are going to provide the appointment letter to them also."


She further said that MCD has always been battling the financials and that it is not self-sufficient as of now.


"...no definitely, MCD is not self-sufficient and the Delhi government is helping us financially and we have got a lot of funds for education and definitely in the coming days Delhi government will be helping us for other sectors and departments," she replied when asked if Centre has extended any support to the civic body. 


 


Formation Of Standing Committee


Delhi MCD is still working without the Standing Committee, a mandator panel that oversees various decisions and certain expenditures cannot be done without the committee's approval.


Sharing her view on the same, Mayor Shelly Oberoi said, "Standing committee is a very important part of MCD, I do agree with you and really I also want that we should get the standing committee as soon as possible because the Delhi people are suffering. The McD work is hampering...We are only waiting for the verdict which is pending in the Supreme Court as far as the nominated counselors are concerned."


"So, as we get the verdict from the Supreme Court, definitely we will work on the formation and establishment of the standing committee," the mayor said.


Subscribe And Follow ABP Live On Telegram: https://t.me/officialabplive