"Absence of inputs from Chief Minister...": LG VK Saxena on delay of Delhi mayoral polls

New Delhi [India], April 25 : After the mayoral polls in Delhi were delayed, Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena said that he didn't appoint the presiding officer because of the 'absence of inputs" from Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is in judicial custody.
LG Saxena has written a note to Delhi Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar regarding the appointment of a presiding officer and mayoral elections.
He said that the proposal was sent to the Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal which was returned by his office with the observations on April 22 "'As the Chief Minister is presently under JC, the CMO is not in a position to either communicate or put up the file before him for his direction/instructions."
The LG said that he doesn't "deem it appropriate" to exercise his powers for appointing the presiding officer in the absence of inputs from the Chief Minister.
"The proposal for appointing a Presiding Officer was sent to the Chief Minister by the Chief Secretary, which was returned by his office with the observations on 22.04.2024 'As the Chief Minister is presently under JC, the CMO is not in a position to either communicate or put up the file before him for his direction/instructions...Accordingly, I do not deem it appropriate to exercise my power as Administrator to appoint the Presiding Officer in the absence of inputs from the Chief Minister," the statement read.
The Chief Minister has been lodged in Tihar Jail since April 1, following his arrest in the Delhi excise policy case by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 21. LG Saxena further said that the incumbent Mayor and Deputy Mayor will hold their positions till the next mayoral polls are held.
He added that it is important to ensure that the functioning of Municipal Corporation, which has major public service responsibilities, is not impacted by these developments
"In the given situation, it is important to ensure that the functioning of the Municipal Corporation, which has major public service responsibilities, is not impacted by these developments. Therefore, in the larger public interest, it would be in the fitness of things that the proposed elections be deferred and the incumbent Mayor and Deputy Mayor continue to hold their positions in terms of section 36[1] of the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act 1957, till such time that the elections can be held in terms of the legal provisions in this regard," the statement added.
The scheduled election of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Delhi has been postponed as the nomination of the Presiding Officer, which is mandatory, has not taken place.
Earlier, the Aam Aadmi Party had fielded Mahesh Khichi for the post of mayor and Ravinder Bhardwaj for deputy mayor while the BJP has fielded Kishan Lal. The Congress party has announced that they will support the AAP candidate.
Last year, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidates Shelly Oberoi and Aaley Muhammad Iqbal were re-elected as Mayor and Deputy Mayor in Delhi respectively after BJP candidates withdrew their nominations.
The post of mayor in the national capital sees five single-year terms on a rotational basis with the first year reserved for women, the second for the open category, the third for the reserved category and the remaining two again for the open category. Delhi gets a new mayor after the end of a financial year.