New Delhi, March 30 A meeting of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi's Standing Committee was adjourned amid chaos and a deadlock between the BJP and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday.
Standing Committee Chairperson Satya Sharma alleged that AAP councillors disrupted the proceedings, preventing discussion on key agenda items, including a proposal related to the retirement of nine members.
AAP councillors rejected the claims and said they were demanding that minutes of the previous meeting be placed before the committee, as required under rules, before taking up fresh agenda items.
Sharma said efforts were made for nearly an hour to restore order, but the situation turned tense when some councillors became aggressive.
"We are committed to working in a transparent and accountable manner while strictly adhering to all rules and provisions. No disruption can deter us from serving the public interest," she said.
The meeting has now been rescheduled to convene on Tuesday at 1 pm.
Sharma alleged that AAP councillors raised "baseless issues" during the meeting and said such conduct hampers civic work and affects the delivery of services to residents.
AAP councillors alleged that the BJP tried to push through decisions without following due process and claimed that landfill projects worth Rs 650 crore were awarded without fresh tenders to an existing firm.
Standing Committee member and AAP councillor from Mahaveer Enclave, Praveen Kumar, said the party had objected to taking up new business without confirmation of previous minutes.
"They tried to proceed with agenda items despite objections, prompting protests from AAP councillors," he said.
He also alleged that the call for the next meeting is not valid as the corporation's rules are not being followed.
"A minimum of 72 hours' notice is required to be given according to the corporation's rules, which is not the case right now," Kumar said.
The AAP also questioned the manner in which proposals were brought before the panel and alleged irregularities in tendering processes, claims that could not be independently verified.
The BJP, in turn, accused the AAP of deliberately stalling proceedings.
Nine committee members are set to retire this month, and the process for electing new members to the 18-member panel is set to take place.
Among the nine, six of the 12 members elected from the zonal ward committees last year will also retire, based on the outcome of another draw. Further, three of the six members elected from the House last year will retire through a draw.
According to corporation rules, one year after a committee is formed, half of its members retire through a draw of lots. The tenure of a standing committee member is two years.