New Delhi, April 8 The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday alleged that the BJP had prematurely dissolved the Municipal Corporation of Delhi's (MCD) standing committee to "facilitate corruption," and demanded that it be allowed to continue until June 12 to avoid disruption in civic works.
Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters, MCD co-incharge Praveen Kumar said the standing committee, whose term was to end on June 12, had been curtailed to March 31 through a proposal brought by the ruling party.
"The BJP dissolved the standing committee in the MCD three months in advance to carry out corruption worth crores of rupees," Kumar alleged.
He said the standing committee plays a crucial role in passing budgets and approving major projects of the corporation, and its absence would stall decision-making.
"By limiting the tenure of the committee, which was ending on June 12, there will now be no meetings, and the BJP will run the MCD in an authoritarian manner," he said.
Kumar also claimed that an earlier rule framed during the BJP's tenure did not allow the dissolution of the committee before the completion of one year or the formation of a new panel.
"Some years ago, it was the BJP government itself that made a rule that the standing committee could not be dissolved for more than a year," he said, further alleging that the MCD commissioner's powers had been enhanced to weaken the committee.
The AAP leader further accused the BJP of attempting to clear large tenders without oversight. Referring to provisions of the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, he said the committee should continue to function until the formation of a new one.
The BJP has not yet responded to the allegations.