The AAP has alleged that Saxena has appointed BJP leaders who were not experts in civic issues as aldermen and elected members should have been sworn in before the nominated members. After the clash the house was adjourned.
According to convention, the senior-most councillor — in this case, Adarsh Nagar councillor Mukesh Kumar Goel — should have been nominated the presiding officer of the meeting to elect the mayor.
However, party sources alleged, Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena decided on BJP’s Gautampuri ward councillor Satya Sharma and sent the file directly to the chief secretary for notification.
Seven BJP Lok Sabha MPs from BJP, AAP’s three Rajya Sabha MPs and 14 MLAs nominated by the Delhi Assembly Speaker can vote in the elections to the posts of mayor and deputy mayor.
Six members of the standing committee will also be elected.
After reunification, the MCD House comprises 250 elected councillors. In recently concluded local body polls, AAP bagged 134 seats. BJP won 104 seats. The Congress, which has nine councillors, has decided abstain from voting.
Terming the development unfortunate, Delhi BJP working president Virendra Sachdeva said that why is the AAP scared if it has the majority. “Let the nominated councillors take oath, let the elections happen and everything will become clear,” he said.
The BJP chief also said that about 5-7 party councillors have been injured, while one has serious injuries who is being taken to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital.
“They have attacked our councillors with blades, pieces of glass and chairs. We will file an FIR against AAP leaders,” he added.
There was heavy police deployment at the Civic Centre building, which is the the MCD headquarters, where the meeting was underway.
