High drama at Delhi civic body as AAP, BJP councillors punch, kick each other

Delhi Civic Centre once again witnessed high drama as councillors of BJP and AAP kicked, punched, slapped and pushed each other after Mayor Shelly Oberoi declared one vote invalid in the election to six members of a key municipal committee on Friday. This is the third day of commotions in the House.

One councillor, Ashok Manu, collapsed amid the chaos and he was rushed to a nearby hospital. AAP MLA Atishi alleged that BJP members got agitated and attacked the Delhi mayor when they sensed their party would lose the election.

AAP Councillor Ashok Manu appeared before the media with other Councillors of his party and said, "They are so shameless that they attacked even women and the Mayor. BJP goons did this."

The clashes broke out after Mayor declared one vote invalid in the election to six members of a key municipal committee.

BJP councillor Pankaj Luthra alleged that it was AAP's fault that led to the chaos. He is one of the candidates for the standing committee election.

"Election officers declare the election and say that votes declared invalid by Mayor are valid and 3 candidates each of AAP and BJP have won, but AAP does hooliganism here as instructed by Kejriwal. We won't tolerate this goondaism and approach the Court," BJP leader Harish Khurana said.

According to BJP leader Vijender Gupta, election results are being tampered, wrong announcements being made and they're indulging in fistfights. "Several of our Councillors were injured. FIR is being lodged. The manner in which they've been beaten up, AAP has shown that they are a party of goons," he added.

In a video, Aam Aadmi Party and BJP councillors are seen hurling water bottles and apples at each other inside the House. In another video, women councillors are seen hitting each other on the floor of the House.

"What behaviour is this? This is shameful and condemnable. The country is seeing this. BJP should accept their defeat. I request BJP to stop their goondaism. Those who have attacked the Mayor will be sent behind bars," AAP leader Atishi said on ruckus in the Delhi Civic Centre.

The election process for the six members of the Standing Committee began at around 11 am and concluded at 2:30 pm. The counting began 10 minutes later. The counting process went on for more than two hours.

Mayor Shelly Oberoi asked members that result will be declared without the invalid vote, a move that was opposed by BJP members. The mayor's decision led to the House descending into a chaos as councillors from the BJP and the AAP started pushing one another amid shouting. In a video, a few councillors were seen with their kurtas torn.

Meanwhile, Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi announced that the election of members of the MCD Standing Committee will be held on 27th February.

BJP councillors inflicted life-threatening attack on me: Oberoi

Hours after the municipal House was rocked by fresh clashes between the councillors of the BJP and the AAP, Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi on Friday alleged that a few members of the saffron party inflicted life-threatening attack on her.

At a press conference here, she alleged that her colleague Ashu Thakur was also attacked by another BJP councillor. There was no immediate reaction from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Shortly before the media interaction held at the Civic Centre, the mayor adjourned the House and announced that the election to six members of the standing committee of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) will be held afresh on February 27 at 11 am.

AAP MLA Atishi alleged Thakur was held by her scarf and dragged from the dais to one of the exit gates of the House. "We will go to the Kamla Market Police Station and lodge a case of life-threatening attack on Mayor Shelly Oberoi and our other women councillors," Atishi said.

With inputs from PTI