Mayor Oberoi refuses to appoint presiding officer

Mayor Shelly Oberoi has refused to appoint a presiding officer for the municipal elections scheduled for Wednesday, citing concerns over the fairness of the process. She expressed that her “conscience does not allow” participation in what she described as an “undemocratic election process”.

Brief window for nominations

I have received multiple representations from councillors who were unable to file their nominations because they were given only one day’s notice. Such a brief window for nomination submissions is unprecedented. — Shelly Oberoi, Mayor

She highlighted the issues raised by several councillors who, according to her, were unable to file their nominations due to the short notice.

She said, “Providing sufficient time for nomination is essential to upholding the fairness of the democratic process.”

Oberoi also questioned the disparity in the timelines given by the municipal administration. “It took the municipal secretary five days to notify the election after my directions, so how can only one day be given for filing nominations?” she asked.

According to the Mayor, such a brief window for nomination submissions was unprecedented. “Never before in the history of the MCD has such little time been given for the filing of nominations,” she noted.

In response to these concerns, Oberoi has directed the municipal commissioner to restart the election process, this time providing at least one week’s notice for the filing of nominations.

Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor said Oberoi had “thwarted democracy” by refusing to appoint presiding officers for the MCD ward committees elections. He added that Oberoi should be dismissed, arguing that she has “lost all constitutional and ethical right to stay as Mayor”.