In a dramatic turn of events, former Delhi Deputy CM and AAP leader Manish Sisodia accused the BJP of undermining democracy in the Delhi Municipal Corporation (MCD). The controversy revolves around the scheduling of a standing committee member election. Sisodia claims the BJP pushed to hold this election late at night, despite the House meeting being adjourned.
Initially, Sisodia criticized the BJP harshly. He said, “Tonight, under the orders of PM Narendra Modi, the BJP is undermining democracy in the Delhi Municipal Corporation.” The election was set for that day. However, chaos erupted during the meeting. As a result, Mayor Shelly Oberoi had to adjourn the session until October 5, when it will reconvene.
Furthermore, Sisodia revealed that Delhi LG VK Saxena was abroad but still ordered the election to take place immediately. He stated, “At 8:30 PM, the Delhi LG sent a letter to the MCD Commissioner, stating that the standing committee election must finish within 1.5 hours, by 10:00 PM. Even from America, he insisted that the election proceed without delay.”
In addition, Sisodia alleged that BJP councillors knew about the LG’s plans before the meeting. “We were puzzled by the BJP‘s motives, but then we realized the real game,” he explained. An employee from the Municipal Corporation informed him that while AAP and Congress councilors left the House, the BJP kept its councilors near the Commissioner.
This strategic move raised eyebrows. Sisodia remarked, “They knew everything beforehand, which is why they’re all standing there.”
Earlier, LG VK Saxena instructed the MCD Commissioner to report on the conduct of elections for the sixth member of the standing committee by 10 PM that evening. He outlined the election protocol clearly. He said, “If the Mayor is unavailable or refuses to preside, the Deputy Mayor may take over. If both decline, the senior most member may fulfill this role.”
Meanwhile, MCD Commissioner Ashwani Kumar ordered the standing committee member election for September 27 at 1 PM. However, due to protests from AAP councillors against a decision to ban mobile phones in the assembly, the election faced postponement after the House meeting was adjourned.
The situation in the Delhi Municipal Corporation highlights ongoing tensions between the AAP and BJP. Accusations continue to fly regarding the integrity of the electoral process. As the political drama unfolds, everyone will watch the upcoming session scheduled for October 5. The standing committee election will return to the agenda, and the outcome remains uncertain.
Kolkata: On Friday, January 10, 2026, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha members demonstrated against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her actions after the ED raids at the I-PAC office and its chief Pratik Jain's home. | In relation to an alleged coal smuggling case that stretches back a few years, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) searched the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) office and Pratik Jain's home on Loudon Street in Kolkata on Thursday, January 8, 2025. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee launched a protest against the ED raids on I-PAC after the raid set off a political storm in the state. Why is a chief minister endorsing Pratik Jain, and who is he? Pratik Jain, a political strategist and co-founder of I-PAC, is a graduate of IIT Bombay. He is credited with helping I-PAC grow into one of the most significant political consulting organizations in India. I-PAC was established in 2015 and offers services like data-driven campaign management, support for governance, and voter outreach initiatives. It has collaborated with a number of Indian political groups throughout the years, notably West Bengal's Trinamool Congress (TMC). I-PAC reportedly collaborates closely with Abhishek Banerjee, the national general secretary of the Trinamool Congress, and his office. The company oversees the IT and media division of the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC and is in charge of creating its election campaigns. Mr. Jain was in charge of the Trinamool Congress's IT cell, according to Ms. Banerjee. According to his LinkedIn page, Jain, an engineering graduate from IIT Bombay, started his career as an analyst at the consulting firm Deloitte. He was one of the first members of Citizens of Accountable Governance, which later evolved into I-PAC. Arvind Kejriwal, M.K. Stalin, Jaganmohan Reddy, Uddhav Thackeray, Rahul Gandhi, and Nitish Kumar are just a few of the prominent figures with whom the political consultancy firm has collaborated.…
Says ‘I-PAC Attack Feels Like Rebirth: West Bengal CM leads Kolkata rally against ED raids…
Legislative Assembly elections are expected to be held in Assam in March–April 2026 to elect 126 members of the Assam Legislative Assembly.…
Chief Minister Home Affairs General Administration Cabinet Secretariat Vigilance Election Other departments not allotted to…
The Parliament passed the Waqf (Alteration) Bill, 2024 in the early hours of Friday after the…
The Waqf Bill Was a topic of major debate in India, Creating discussions about property…