AAP, BJP Councillors Throw Punches At Each Other Over One Vote During MCD Panel Election. WATCH
MCD House Ruckus: Mayor Shelly Oberoi was pushed and women councillors were also beaten as pandemonium broke out during MCD's standing committee election.
A huge ruckus erupted in the municipal House in Delhi during counting of votes to elect six members of the MCD's standing committee, with AAP and BJP councillors throwing punches and manhandling each other. Sources told ABP News that Mayor Shelly Oberoi was pushed during the ruckus and women councillors were also beaten.
Some councillors were seen with their kurtas torn as both sides punched, kicked, slapped and pushed one another amid shouting.
Amid the pandemonium, the health of an AAP councillor,Ashok Kumar Maanu, deteriorated and he was made to lie on the Mayor's bench. Speaking to reporters, Maanu said, "They are so shameless that they attacked even women and the Mayor. BJP goons did this."
Earlier in the day, the polling closed with 242 of the 250 councillors exercising their franchise. The standing committee is the highest decision-making body of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).
All hell broke loose after BJP objected to one vote being made invalid. The Mayor insisted the result would be declared without the invalid vote. The BJP said it would go to the court if the Mayor declares the result.
According to sources, Mayor Shelly Oberoi refused to sign the first list of elected members of the standing committee and demanded a recount of votes.
Protesting against the Mayor's decision, BJP councillors started breaking mikes, tearing ballot papers and even damaged the polling booths amid sloganeering.
AAP leader Atishi told reporters that BJP members attacked the Delhi Mayor when they sensed their party would lose the polls.
"The counting of votes of the standing committee elections was peaceful. The BJP members got agitated and attacked the Delhi mayor when they sensed their party would lose the polls," Atishi said.
"Today BJP showed goondaism in the civic centre. The mayor was attacked and physically assaulted by a BJP male member. What behaviour is this? This is shameful and condemnable. The country is seeing this. BJP should accept their defeat. I request BJP to stop their goondaism. Those who have attacked the Mayor will be sent behind bars," she further said.
Senior BJP leader Vijender Gupta demanded a CBI inquiry and asserted that election results were being tampered.
"Election results are being tampered, wrong announcements being made and they are indulging in fistfights. Several of our councillors were injured. FIR is being lodged. The manner in which they have been beaten up, AAP has shown that they are a party of goons," ANI quoted Gupta as saying.
"Six members were supposed to be elected to standing committee. Three members each from AAP and BJP were elected. One AAP member lost. All this was done to make him win and results tampered with," he further said.
Former Delhi mayor Aarti Mehra said BJP would go to court and take legal action against Oberoi.
"Mayor has no right to decide result, she can only announce it. We'll go to court and take legal action against her. I can show video where Atishi is seen giving directions to create ruckus. Strong action will be taken," ANI quoted Mehra as saying.
During polling, a few BJP councillors raised "Jai Shri Ram" and pro-Modi slogans while AAP members countered them with chants of "Aam Aadami Party zindabad" and "Arvind Kejriwal zindabad".
The MCD's standing committee is a powerful body that decides how funds are to be used and on what projects in the national capital.
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