Elections for Delhi mayor under way after three failed attempts

Elections to choose the new mayor of Delhi are underway for the fourth time on Wednesday after the proceedings had to be called off thrice in the last 2 months due to the ruckus created by the AAP and BJP.

Authorities have stepped up security inside the municipal House and on the Civic Centre premises in Delhi for the mayoral poll. Several civil defence personnel, including women members, have been deployed in the chamber of the House. Heavy deployment of paramilitary force has been done on the premises of the Civic Centre.

Last week, Delhi Lt Governor VK Saxena gave his nod to convene the municipal House for holding the mayoral election following the apex court order.

The top court on February 17 ordered the issuance of a notice within 24 hours for convening the first meeting of the MCD to fix the date of elections for the mayor, the deputy mayor and the members of the standing committee of the civic body.

The court issued the order after hearing a plea moved by the ruling Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) mayoral candidate Shelly Oberoi, who had sought early conduct of the election.

The maiden meeting of the newly elected 250-member MCD House on January 6 was adjourned following a ruckus between the AAP and BJP members, and two successive meetings on January 24 and February 6 were also adjourned without electing the mayor and the deputy mayor amid loud protests by AAP councillors over the presiding officer's decision to administer the oath to the 10 aldermen first.

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