SC Ruling On Mayor Polls Proves How LG, BJP Are Passing 'Illegal' Orders, Says CM Kejriwal

Arvind Kejriwal, whose ruling AAP has been involved in a tussle with BJP over the mayoral polls for over two months, also attacked LG VK Saxena for passing 'illegal, unconstitutional orders'.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said the Supreme Court verdict on MCD mayoral polls was a "victory of democracy". Kejriwal, whose ruling AAP has been involved in a tussle with BJP over the mayoral polls for over two months, also attacked Lieutenant Governor (LG) VK Saxena for passing "illegal, unconstitutional orders".

"The Supreme Court's mandate is a victory of democracy, many thanks to the apex court. After two and a half months, Delhi will now get a mayor," Kejriwal tweeted.

"The SC ruling on mayoral polls proves how LG and BJP have passing illegal and unconstitutional orders in Delhi every day," the Delhi CM further said.

Addressing a press conference, AAP leader Durgesh Pathak called the SC verdict a "tight slap on the face of BJP".

"It is a victory for AAP. Delhi will get mayor and deputy mayor two-and-half months after the MCD polls. BJP has got a clear direction to sit in the Opposition and the mayor will be of AAP as people have voted for the Aam Aadmi Party," he said.

In a major relief for the ruling AAP in its tussle with the Delhi L-G, the Supreme Court on Friday ruled that members nominated by the Lieutenant Governor (LG) could not vote in the polls to elect the Mayor of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). The Supreme Court also ordered the Lieutenant Governor (LG) of Delhi Vinai Kumar Saxena to announce within 24 hours the date of the polls to elect the Mayor.

The top court also held that nominated members cannot vote neither in the elections for Deputy Mayor nor for the standing committees. Also, the election of the Mayor has to precede the election of Deputy Mayor, Bar and Bench reported.

READ | Delhi Mayor Polls: Nominated Members Can't Vote, Notify Election In 24 Hours, Rules Supreme Court

"At the first meeting of MCD, election shall be held of post of Mayor. In that meeting, nominated members shall not have the right to vote. After the Mayor is elected, he shall be the presiding officer for electing deputy Mayor," the Supreme Court said.

"Notice for the election of Mayor and first meeting of MCD shall be issued within 24 hours and notice shall fix the date on which election of Mayor, deupty Mayor and standing committee members shall be held in terms of above direction," the court ordered.

The SC bench, comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justice PS Narasimha and Justice JB Pardiwala, was hearing a petition filed by AAP leader Shelly Oberoi in connection with the election of mayor of the Delhi municipal corporation.

Rejecting the arguments of the Delhi LG that nominated members are entitled to vote, the SC said, "The prohibition on nominated members exercising the right to vote in terms of S 3(3)(b)(1) shall apply to the first meeting where the mayor and the deputy mayor are to be elected".

"Aldermen (nominated members) cannot vote and that is the basic principle of democracy," CJI Chandrachud said orally after dictating the order.