Aam Aadmi Party (AAP): The Supreme Court on Monday chastised the returning officer in the Chandigarh mayor elections for “defacing ballots” Councilors from the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) cornered the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday over the Supreme Court verdict on the Chandigarh mayoral elections, with AAP members storming into the house well and chanting anti-BJP shouts. On Monday, the Supreme Court chastised the returning officer in the Chandigarh mayoral elections for defacing ballots and making a mockery of democracy, saying, We will not allow democracy to be murdered.
Raising banners during Monday’s house meeting to debate budget plans, AAP council members said that the Supreme Court’s views supported their position on the matter. The AAP had petitioned the Supreme Court, claiming egregious anomalies in the way the Chandigarh mayoral election was handled, with the BJP candidate declared the victor. The entire country has seen the conduct of the returning officer on video, stated AAP councilor from Aman Vihar Ravinder Bharadwaj. According to Praveen Kumar, an AAP councilor from Mahaveer Enclave (west), the BJP’s candidacy in the Chandigarh elections has been exposed by the Supreme Court’s remark. He declared that the AAP’s position is amply vindicated by this.
AAP blasts BJP
The opposition’s leader, Raja Iqbal Singh, said that BJP council members had also into the house’s well in protest at the AAP’s “Vote Chor” cries. “The meeting’s topic of discussion was not the upcoming elections in Chandigarh. They were raising the chants needlessly when the matter had nothing to do with Delhi or the MCD. Additionally, BJP council members voiced their opposition to the plan to increase the mayor’s discretionary budget from ₹7.5 crore to ₹500 crore. Kamaljeet Sehrawat, a former mayor of South MCD, questioned why the mayor required so much money in discretionary funds. The 250 council members should split this amount equally so that they can each complete a few minor repairs in their wards.
Mayor Shelly Oberoi did not address the House. However, a mayor’s office official stated, We will use the money that has remained unspent over the last four to five years. It will not result in a loss in funds for other departments. Iqbal stated that there is no reason to leave that much money up to the mayor’s choice. This is illegal and we will oppose any hike in the mayor’s discretionary funds, he said.
AAP blasts BJP over Supreme Court verdict on Chandigarh mayor elections.
Earlier, Nazia Danish, a Congress councillor, opened the budget discussion. She stated that the final budget speech to be read by House Speaker Mukesh Goyal has “already been finalized” and that there is no purpose in holding talks and soliciting recommendations. Goel stated that no speech has been submitted to the municipal secretariat. Preeti, a Dilshad Colony councilor, addressed the problem of dog bites and requested that MCD offer immunizations to afflicted residents on their doorstep.
According to BJP councillor Sandeep Kapoor, the budget generally includes contributions from 12 zonal committees, and 23 special and ad hoc committees, but the non-formation of these panels has resulted in the budget being passed “hurriedly.” Later that evening, Oberoi tweeted that the councilors participated in the Budget session. “Also, the Supreme Court’s remark on the Chandigarh Mayor elections was welcomed. This will be a historic budget for Delhi’s residents, youth, and business leaders. This time, the budget includes particular provisions for sanitation and infrastructure. The AAP government’s first budget for the corporation will be tabled in the House on February 8, following discussion.”
Ratnavali