'MCD Bill Brought To Stall Polls': Delhi CM Kejriwal Says AAP Will Challenge Centre In Court If Needed

The Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2022 was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Friday by the Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal (Image Soure: ANI)

New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said that the AAP will study the MCD Bill introduced by the Union government, adding that they will challenge it in court if needed. 

Addressing a press conference after the Budget announcement in the Delhi Legislative Assembly, he also alleged that the Bill was introduced to stall MCD polls. 

MCD bill (by Centre) being brought to stall (MCD) polls. We will study it, and if needed, will challenge in Court. Reduction of wards' number to 250 from 272 means delimitation, which further means no elections. Bill bring MCD under Centre's control: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal pic.twitter.com/8KcFjeKwlB

— ANI (@ANI) March 26, 2022

The Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2022 was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Friday by the Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai. The objects and reasons of the new bill state that it is aimed at bringing about "greater transparency, improved governance and more efficient delivery of civic service for the people of Delhi".

Delhi Municipal Corporation was trifurcated into three municipal corporations - South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC), North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC), and East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) in 2011.

According to HT, through the Bill, the Centre proposes to appoint a “Special officer” who will essentially discharge the functions of the elected wing of councillors in the interim till the first meeting of the new corporation is held. The Bill proposes to completely omit the section on Director, Local Bodies in the amended act that governs the functioning of the MCDs.

After the Bill was tabled in Lok Sabha, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia lashed out at the Centre and alleged that the bill is only aimed at stalling municipal polls in Delhi as the BJP was scared of losing them.

"The bill has been tabled in Lok Sabha today that only intends to halt the MCD elections. It does not intend to bring reforms to the MCD. The bill does not have anything relating to ending corruption, or providing clean roads to the people of Delhi or giving salaries to the employees of MCD. Its only intention is to stop the MCD election," he alleged, according to ANI.

He hit out at the BJP alleging that it was scared of a small party like the Aam Aadmi Party.

"The Prime Minister is trying to stop Arvind Kejriwal. He, being such a big leader is scared of a small leader. It is happening for the first time that the government has brought a bill in Parliament to stop a leader and avoid an election. There was a discussion in the Delhi Assembly today and the move of the Centre was condemned," he added.