Next Mayor Will Be Elected At Nov House Meet: Oberoi

New Delhi: Mayor Shelly Oberoi announced on Monday that the next mayor will be elected during the upcoming house meeting in Nov.The process was pending for six months, and now in the third term, the seat is reserved for a candidate from the Scheduled Caste (SC) category.The meeting for the House was called at 11am on Monday. When Oberoi didn't arrive on time, BJP councillors reached the dais, put banners on the chair to protest the mayor's delay and accused AAP of deliberately delaying the election.They shouted slogans and held placards that focused on the pollution in Delhi and the mayoral election delay, stating that "AAP is snatching the rights of Dalits and they should be ashamed of that."Oberoi arrived at 11.49am. The BJP councillors surrounded her chair and criticised her for delaying the elections. Some even stood on their chairs. They alleged that the postponement was deliberate.Oberoi tried to calm everyone down and clarified that an election would happen in the next meeting. "The mayor's election will happen next month. Meanwhile, please let the meeting proceed smoothly," she said.When the situation didn't improve, she moved on to agenda items. The House gave administrative approval to a proposal for installation of 4 lakh LED lights across Delhi.Additionally, a road (B-9 Vasant Marg to B-8 street in Vasant Vihar) was officially named Jamaica Marg. After three minutes, Oberoi left the House, adjourning it for the next date.Leader of the Opposition and BJP councillor Raja Iqbal Singh warned that if the elections are not announced soon, BJP will lock the mayor's office. "The mayor is occupying the position reserved for the Scheduled Caste inappropriately.... Also, it is unjust for the mayor to leave Delhiites to suffer pollution while she plans to visit Brazil," he said.Singh criticised the fact that instead of discussing crucial public issues like sanitation and air pollution in the MCD House, the mayor left in a hurry. He lamented that employees had not got salaries or arrears.Oberoi later posted on X: "In the house session, despite the noise made by the BJP councillors, we passed important resolutions. History will remember that whether in power or in opposition, BJP councillors left no stone unturned to stop the work of Delhi. This is the strength of the leadership of former Chief Minister @ArvindKejriwal ji that he does not let the work stop."In a reaction to Singh's threat of locking the mayor's office, AAP said: "It is unfortunate that the leader of the opposition Raja Iqbal Singh is openly talking about committing yet another illegality & locking up the mayor's office in complete violation of the DMC Act, which clearly states that the incumbent mayor will remain in office until the next election is held."