Congress delegation meets L-G to discuss mayoral polls

Ahead of the MCD Standing Committee and Ward Committee elections scheduled for Wednesday, a delegation from the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC), led by its president Devender Yadav, met Lt-Governor VK Saxena at Raj Niwas on Monday.

Intervention of l-g needed

The Constitution of India grants protection to save the rights of SC/ST communities, and we seek the intervention of the Lt-Governor in the appointment of a new Mayor from the Scheduled Caste community without any further delay. — Congress leaders

The delegation submitted a memorandum alleging that Mayor Shelly Oberoi has been illegally continuing in her position since April 2024, despite her term ending on March 31, 2024, without holding the required elections.

Yadav emphasised that, according to the MCD Act (Section-35), a Scheduled Caste (SC) member should have been elected as Mayor in the third year of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). “However, the incumbent Mayor continues to illegally occupy the position till date,” Yadav stated, arguing that all decisions made by her since March 31 could be “illegal and challengeable in court”.

Yadav further criticised the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for what he described as “deliberate neglect” of the SC/ST and backward communities. “In the third year of the MCD, it was the turn of a Scheduled Caste member to become the Mayor, but the ruling Aam Aadmi Party has not held the elections, depriving an SC candidate of his or her rightful turn,” Yadav said.The delegation urged the L-G to intervene and ensure that the provisions of the law are upheld.

“The Constitution of India grants protection to save the rights of SC/ST communities, and we seek the intervention of the Lt-Governor in the appointment of a new Mayor from the Scheduled Caste community without any further delay,” the memorandum read. Yadav also stressed that Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi have been vocal in their fight for the rights of Dalits and backward communities, stating, “The party will not allow any injustice to be done to the Dalit community.”

After the meeting, Yadav spoke to the media, noting that the L-G had given the Congress delegation a patient hearing. “The L-G assured us that no injustice would be done to the SC/ST community in the election of the new Mayor,” Yadav said.