DelhiPolitics – MCD Delays Key Committee Elections Amid Political Disagreement

DelhiPolitics –   The Municipal Corporation of Delhi has put on hold the election process for several important committee positions, delaying the selection of members for vacant Standing Committee seats and leadership posts in ward committees across the city.

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has indefinitely postponed elections for six vacant Standing Committee seats along with the chairperson and deputy chairperson positions in 12 ward committees. Officials confirmed on Wednesday that the civic body has also cancelled the ongoing nomination process linked to the elections.

The polls were earlier scheduled to take place on June 3. As part of the earlier timetable, May 29 had been set as the final day for candidates to collect nomination forms. However, according to an official communication issued by the corporation, the complete election exercise now stands suspended until further notice.

Political Differences Behind Delay

While the official notice did not mention any reason for the postponement, senior civic officials indicated that political disagreements and the absence of consensus over candidate selection may have contributed to the decision. Discussions reportedly remained unresolved regarding appointments for various ward committees and the remaining Standing Committee vacancies.

Leader of Opposition in the MCD, Ankush Narang, criticised the move and alleged that the elections had been deferred without following the provisions laid down under the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act.

Narang referred to Section 53(2) of the DMC Act, claiming that any decision related to fixing or postponing ward committee elections requires the approval of the committee chairman. He questioned the authority under which the municipal secretary issued the order to defer the polls.

BJP Faces Allegations Over Internal Issues

The opposition leader further accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of delaying the election process due to internal disagreements and concerns over losing influence in certain municipal zones. According to him, differences within the party may have affected candidate finalisation for key committee positions.

The BJP has not issued any official statement responding to the allegations so far.

Despite the current suspension, officials within the civic body suggested that the election process could be rescheduled later in June after discussions among political stakeholders are completed.

Revised Election Schedule Added Confusion

The MCD had initially announced earlier this month that elections for ward committee leadership positions and Standing Committee memberships would be conducted on May 23. The corporation later revised the schedule and shifted the voting date to June 3.

Along with the revised schedule, nomination-related activities were also moved from May 19 to May 29. The repeated changes in dates created uncertainty regarding the election process within the civic administration.

At present, the Standing Committee has only 12 active members despite having an approved strength of 18. The vacancies emerged after nine members completed their terms on March 31 following a delayed draw-of-lots procedure conducted by the civic body.

Among the retired members, six belonged to the BJP, while three represented the Aam Aadmi Party.

Vacant Seats Remain Unfilled

The MCD House filled three of the vacant positions on April 29. Jai Bhagwan Yadav from Begumpur and Manish Chadha from Paharganj secured seats for the BJP, while Jajal Chaudhary from Shalimar Bagh was elected on behalf of the AAP.

However, six positions in the Standing Committee are still vacant, making the upcoming elections significant for the balance of power within the civic body.

Anti-Encroachment Drive Conducted in South Delhi

In a separate development, the MCD on Wednesday carried out an anti-encroachment operation in the Qutub Institutional Area of south Delhi. Officials stated that the drive was conducted jointly by the civic body’s South Zone department, the Public Works Department, and local police teams.

During the operation, authorities removed temporary stalls, roadside sheds, and structures that were allegedly obstructing roads and footpaths. JCB machines were deployed to clear encroachments from public spaces, while several shop items placed illegally on pavements were also seized by officials.

The civic body said the action was aimed at improving traffic movement and restoring public access along the Qutub Institutional Area road stretch.