Row marks Delhi mayor election
Prof. Rajni Abbi of the BJP was formally elected as Delhi mayor but not before the Congress questioning her taking up an office of profit as a DU associate professor. There was no voting for the post of deputy chairman as Congress candidate agreed that the result of the mayoral election be taken as the basis for election of BJP
candidate, Anil Sharma, for the post of deputy mayor. Suman Kumar Gupta and Rekha Gupta of the BJP and Tulsi Ram Sablania of the Congress were chosen as new members of the standing committee.
Earlier, as soon as the election process started, Congress councillors raised objection over Prof. Abbi’s candidature and shouted slogans, while rushing to the well of the House. Outgoing mayor and presiding officer for the elections, P.R. Sawhney, read out a letter from the Delhi University, which gave permission to Prof. Abbi to take up the task of councillor on certain conditions. Congress councillors objected saying Prof. Abbi gets salary from DU, and hence she was holding an office of profit. Later, however, Congress councillors relented and allowed the election to take place.
Following her election, Prof. Abbi said that the office of mayor was not an office of profit as she will not be getting salary and she can hold both the offices as she had taken permission from DU for working as councillor.
“This is not a breach of law, this is not illegal. I know the law,” she said, adding that DU post does not come under office of profit as the university is an autonomous institution.
Post-election, a security guard was injured in Town Hall, where the elections were held, during celebrations. Security guard Mohan Chandra Joshi sustained a fracture in his leg when a vehicle rammed into him as he was trying to control the movement of vehicles into Town Hall, while being posted at its gate.
The scheduled press conference of the mayor could not be held amid the chaos and presence of her supporters in the hall where it was supposed to take place. Later, Prof. Abbi issued a statement listing clean and green Delhi, efficient and accountable administration and strong opposition to the proposed division of the MCD, as her priorities.
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