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Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi refused to appoint a presiding officer for MCD ward committee elections which are scheduled for September 4, citing concerns over an "undemocratic process and insufficient notice" for filing nominations.
She criticized the short timeframe given and directed the Commissioner to restart the election process with at least a week's notice to ensure fairness "I would like to emphasize that the timeframe for filing nominations and other procedural aspects of election law is of paramount importance to the entire electoral process. Providing sufficient time for candidates to complete the nomination process is essential to upholding the democratic principles of fairness and reasonableness. Any procedure that unduly limits the time available for candidates to file their nominations can be perceived as undemocratic and an arbitrary action. I must reiterate that any attempt to restrict this timeframe to an unreasonably short period compromises the fairness of the elections to the ward committees and the members of the standing committee," the Delhi Mayor said. "The election notice was issued by the Commissioner on 28.08.2024 and was received by the Municipal Councillors (including the undersigned) late in the evening of the same day. This notice fixed 04.09.2024 as the date for the election of the Chairman, Deputy Chairman, and one member to the Standing Committee from the Ward Committees. It also set 30.08.2024, as the deadline for filing nominations, allowing only one clear day between the issuance of the notice (28.08.2024) and the nomination deadline (30.08.2024). Such a short time frame between issuance of notice and the deadline for filing nominations is unprecedented in the history of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi," she said. "This scheduling appears to be a significant departure from fair democratic practices. The dates for the election process have been arranged in a way that has deprived many eligible councillors of their legal right to file nominations, while others may be entirely excluded from participating in the election process," she added. In a note to the Commissioner, the Delhi Mayor said that she has received multiple representations from councillors unable to file nominations due to only one day's notice. "Providing sufficient time for nomination is essential to upholding the fairness of the democratic process. It took the municipal secretary five days to notify the election after my directions, so how can only one day be given for filing nominations," the Delhi Mayor said. She further requested the Commissioner to direct the Municipal Secretary to revise the election notice and extend the timeframe for filing nominations for the positions of Chairman, Deputy Chairman, and members of the standing committee by a few more days. "In light of the circumstances outlined above, I request the Commissioner to direct the Municipal Secretary to revise the election notice and extend the timeframe for filing nominations for the positions of Chairman, Deputy Chairman, and members of the standing committee by a few more days. An extension of even one week would adequately address the concerns raised, without impacting the overall election process," she stated. Meanwhile, the Leader of the Opposition in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi Sardar Raja Iqbal Singh has said that by not appointing presiding officers of the municipal ward committees elections Shelly Oberoi and the Aam Aadmi Party have accepted defeat not only in the ward committees but also in the standing committee elections. The Leader of the Opposition has said that two years of the municipal corporation have been wasted by the Aam Aadmi Party, and development work inwards has come to a standstill. There is a situation where the Municipal Commissioner has to ensure compliance with the constitutional provisions. (ANI)
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