Delhi MCD mayor polls on hold till February 17; Supreme Court says nominated members cannot vote

The Lieutenant Governor (LG) of Delhi Vinai Kumar Saxena told the Supreme Court on Monday that the polls to elect the mayor of Delhi will not be held till February 17, when the Supreme Court will hear the plea filed by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader raising issues with the manner in which the elections are slated to be held [Shelly Oberoi and anr vs Office of Lieutenant Governor of Delhi and ors]. .During the hearing of the matter on Monday, a bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud and Justices PS Narasimha and JB Pardiwala also made it clear that nominated members cannot vote in the mayoral elections. "It is very clear that nominated members cannot vote," the CJI said.The Court was hearing a plea AAP's Shelly Oberoi challenging the Lieutenant Governor's move to allow members nominated by him to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to vote in the elections for mayor and deputy mayor..Senior Advocate AM Singhvi, appearing for the petitioner, informed the bench that on Sunday a communication was received from Delhi LG VK Saxena stating the polls would be held on February 16. .However Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Sanjay Jain, appearing for the LG, assured the court that the polling could be deferred till the top court hears the matter considering the time constraint today.."List this on Friday (February 17). ASG Jain submits that polls will not be held on 16th," the bench proceeded to record in its order. .Delhi does not yet have a mayor, despite voting in members of its municipal corporation by the end of last year.AAP had won 134 of 250 wards, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had won 104. The results were announced on December 7, 2022.Two previous sittings of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) saw scuffle break out among the AAP and BJP councillors. Initially, given its lack of a majority, the saffron party had said that it would be putting forth candidates for the two posts, but has since gone back on that decision.According to a report by PTI, the house was adjourned on January 6 and January 24 amid ruckus. The presiding officer had to adjourn the House indefinitely on January 24 following shoving and sloganeering against Delhi Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal. The ruckus had broken out after AAP members had raised an objection to nominated councillors being given the oath first.A similar situation ensued even on February 6.The petitioner, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Shelly Oberoi, had earlier moved the top court for directions to expedite the elections to Delhi's mayor and deputy mayor posts.Oberoi, in her plea, had urged the Court to order for a time-bound conduct of elections, and to ensure that the nominated members are not allowed to vote.That plea was susequently withdrawn, with remedies kept open. Subsequently, she moved the present plea.Besides voting by nominated members, the plea also raised objection to holding simultaneous elections to the post of mayor, deputy mayor and standing committee..[Read live coverage of hearing below].[Read order]