Days after the third meeting to elect the Mayor and the Deputy Mayor of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) was postponed due to a ruckus in the House over the issues of aldermen voting rights, Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena has approved February 16 as the date for the city’s Mayoral polls.

Earlier, the MCD House was stalled thrice — January 6, January 24, and February 6 — due to ruckus.

Delhi’s civic body will meet on February 16 for the fourth time to elect the mayor, deputy mayor and six members of the standing committee.

Saxena has accepted a proposal by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to hold the elections on February 16, the LG office said on Sunday.

The Lieutenant Governor has approved the proposal of convening the adjourned meeting on February 16.

Saxena informed in a statement that the meeting will be convened on February 16, at 11 am on the 4th floor, A Block, Dr SP Mukherjee Civic Centre.

“As recommended by Chief Minister, GNCTD, I approve the proposal to convene the adjourned first meeting of Municipal Corporation of Delhi on Thursday, the 16th February 2023 at 11 am at 4th Floor, A-Block, Dr SP Mukherjee Civic Centre for the election of Mayor, Dy Mayor and six members to the Standing Committee,” the statement reads.

Earlier on February 9, the MCD got the nod from the Delhi government on the proposed date, and only the final nod from the LG was pending.

The National Capital is yet to elect the Mayor and Deputy Mayor after three previous meetings held on January 6 and 24
and February 6 were adjourned without holding the exercise following a ruckus between the BJP and AAP councillors.

The last meeting of the MCD councillors held on February 6 was adjourned until the next date amid sloganeering and ruckus over the issues of aldermen voting rights.

This was the third time in a row that the MCD House had been adjourned after a ruckus erupted over nominated members being allowed to vote in the election to the post of mayor, deputy mayor, and standing committee members.

The MCD Presiding Officer had said that the polls to elect mayor, deputy mayor and Standing Committee members will be held simultaneously. She also said that as per the DMC Act, aldermen are eligible to vote in the mayor, deputy mayor polls.

However, the AAP councillors protested vehemently against the aldermen being allowed to vote. AAP’s Councillor and Leader
of the House Mukesh Goel had said, “The Supreme Court order clearly says that aldermen can only vote in ward committee polls but cannot vote in the mayor polls. This is completely illegal.”