Delhi: Congress accuses BJP of violating rules during mayoral polls

Opposition Congress in the BJP-led North Delhi Municipal Corporation accused the ruling party of violating rules during the mayoral polls on Tuesday. 

Congress alleged that the ruling party allowed some armed security personnel inside the House flouting norms.

"People who were not authorised to enter the NDMC House were present inside it. Even private security officers of councillors and other leaders were seen, even though as a rule, no arms are allowed inside it," Leader of Opposition Mukesh Goel alleged.

"The new Mayor has become too excited after his victory, but he should have acted more sensibly," he said. BJP candidate Ravinder Gupta defeated Congress rival Harsh Sharma by a margin of 41 votes to be elected as the mayor of North Delhi.

But, incidentally, even before the counting had begun inside the House at the Civic Centre here, placards "congratulating Gupta" as the "new Mayor" were found "planted" in most of the flower pots on all the four floors.

The election took place in the meeting hall, located on the fourth floor of the Civic Centre, the headquarters of the NDMC.

"This is a complete violation of the rules. However, confident of one's victory, how can placards declaring a candidate's victory be put out without the official declaration of results? We condemn it," Goel said.

Goel said though BJP had won both the seats, but traditional etiquettes called for "the losing mayoral candidates to address the House, followed by addresses from the Leader of the Opposition and the Leader of the House." "But, instead of observing the etiquette expected inside the House, BJP's mayoral victory was turned into a celebration of the party (BJP)," Goel alleged.