Sachdeva calls for Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi’s dismissal

Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva demanded the immediate dismissal of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Mayor Shelly Oberoi, asserting that she has lost the constitutional and moral right to continue in her position following the recent ward committee elections.

“The victory of the BJP in seven of the 12 ward committees, and securing nine out of 17 seats in the standing committee, signifies that Delhiites are hopeful that development works will finally resume,” Sachdeva stated.

He criticised Oberoi for continuing to lead the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) despite her tenure having ended, accusing her of attempting to obstruct the election process for the ward and standing committees. “The Mayor has shamelessly clung to her post and has shown her true anarchic political upbringing by trying to halt these crucial elections,” he added.

Dalits denied representation in ward committee poll: Cong

Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee president Devender Yadav accused the AAP of betraying the Dalit community by failing to ensure their proper representation in the MCD ward committee elections. Yadav said the elections were supposed to provide a better deal for Dalits, including the regularisation of ad hoc sanitation workers and the appointment of more regular sanitation workers to fill vacant posts.

Yadav claimed that the AAP, despite its promises before coming to power, had neglected the interests of the Dalit community. He criticised Mayor Oberoi for allegedly attempting to stall the zonal ward committee elections.

“Oberoi has overstayed her term by five months, denying a Dalit candidate the opportunity to become Mayor,” Yadav said. He also accused Oberoi of obstructing the elections by refusing to appoint presiding officers and attempting to delay the process through the courts, a move that was rejected by the judiciary.

“In the third year of the current MCD, it was the turn of a Dalit candidate to be appointed as Mayor, which should have happened in April 2024. However, the incumbent Mayor continues in her post, obstructing the ward committee elections. This is both illegal and unconstitutional,” Yadav added.

He further criticised the AAP government for the ongoing dysfunction within the MCD, attributing it to the absence of the Standing Committee and Ward Committees. “The functioning of the MCD has been in limbo, with councillors from both ruling and opposition parties unable to address the concerns of the people. Yet, the Mayor seems unconcerned about the plight of Delhi’s residents,” he added.

The Congress leader also highlighted the poor state of Delhi’s civic infrastructure, citing the monsoon’s heavy rains that led to widespread waterlogging and the loss of over 37 lives due to drowning and electrocution. Yadav blamed AAP’s “misgovernance” for the failure to desilt sewers and drains, leading to the tragic consequences during the rains.