Hundreds of proposals passed in MCD House, Cong cries foul

Even as Opposition Congress alleged violation of election model code of conduct and later lodged complaint with the Delhi state election commission, the ruling BJP in Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) passed 130 odd proposals related to different developmental projects in its last House meeting on Friday.

Criticising the passing of these proposals without any discussion in the House where BJP rules with 168 majority members, Congress councillors Ajit Singh and Krishan Murari approached state election commissioner Rakesh Mehta and filed a written complaint.

“With the declaration of the date of election, the code of conduct has been implemented which means that the House cannot pass new proposals that may influence the public into voting in favour of the BJP. However, the BJP has done exactly that and all these proposals should be nullified,” said Singh while speaking to mediapersons. 

He alleged that some of the proposals, like recommendations to change the recruitment procedure of officials, building of new school buildings and naming or renaming of streets, have been clearly done to woo the voters.

Meanwhile, leader of the MCD’s House Subhash Arya said all the matters have been referred to municipal commissioner K S Mehra who can drop any proposal which violate the code of conduct. 

“It was our duty to pass the proposals. If the commissioner thinks that some of them are violating the code of conduct, he can cancel them or defer them,” Arya said.

Mayor Rajni Abbi has also asked the municipal commissioner to release pension to senior citizens and physically challenged people, pending since last six months. 

“Releasing pension for the needy is an obligatory function of the corporation and does not benefit a particular party since it is released by inspectors and not the councillors, hence it does not come under the ambit of model code of conduct,” Abbi said in a letter written to Mehra.