AAP vs BJP: Who is guilty of stalling Delhi Mayor Election?

Aldermen do not have voting right during the mayoral election. But as ward committee members, they have the right to assist the house in taking decisions of public importance.

New Delhi, Feb 07: Even two months after the AAP won the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), the national capital continues to run without a mayor. There have been three attempts now to elect Mayor all of them have ended in ugly spat between the AAP and BJP leaders.

Notably, the MCD has been without political leadership for the last eight months resulting in the civic body not taking any policy decisions.

Delhi Mayor elections were halted for third time on Monday. Procedings were distrupted, as Aam Aadmi Party members once again created ruckus over voting rights of the aldermen.

Who are aldermen?

The word "aldermen" traces its origin, the Merriam-Webster dictionary states, from Old English ealdorman, from eald (old) + man. Aldermen refers to experts specialised in some areas.

As per the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act of 1957, the Lieutenant Governor of the National Capital Territory of Delhi has the authority to nominate ten individuals who are above the age of 25 to the corporation.These individuals are believed to have specialised expertise or experience in municipal administration.

Though, aldermen do not have voting right during the mayoral election. As ward committee members, they have the right to assist the house in taking decisions of public importance.

The central point of the debate is whether the aldermen can vote or not. The AAP has alleged that the Central government "illegally occupied" the MCD for the last one year and that the BJP has been trying to run the civic body forcibly.

The AAP said it would move the Supreme Court so that the mayoral polls can be held in a "court-monitored manner".

Meanwhile, BJP leaders, including party councillors, MPs and MLAs, staged a protest near the AAP office here on Tuesday, accusing the party of disrupting the mayoral election in the MCD House meeting.

West Delhi MP Parvesh Verma slammed the AAP over its opposition to voting rights given to aldermen, saying it was not written anywhere that they can not vote in the election of the mayor.

The first two sessions of the MCD House -- held on January 6 and January 24 -- were adjourned by the presiding officer following a ruckus and acrimonious exchanges between the members of the BJP and the AAP.

According to the Delhi Municipal Corporation (DMC) Act, 1957, the mayor and the deputy mayor are to be elected in the very first session of the House after the civic polls. However, it's been two months since the municipal elections were held on December 4 and Delhi is yet to get a mayor.

Now the question is exactly who is scared of going ahead with the process. Should any disagreements over proceedigs mar the basic structure of policy making. Is blame game the way to deal with it or legal action?