2 civic bodies forced to hold meet sans chief

In an unprecedented practice, the first meeting of the North and South Delhi Municipal Corporations had to be convened without the appointment of the leaders of the two respective Houses. Reportedly, the three newly-elected BJPled municipal bodies have not been able to decide the names of the leaders of the three Houses due to serious differences in the saffron party’s Delhi unit.

A senior party functionary said that this was the first time in the history of civic bodies that the House meeting of two corporations was held without the leader of the House.

“Nomination of the leader of House should have been done along with the selection of mayor, deputy mayor, and members for the standing committee — a key decision making body. But the party has failed to take a call on the matter so far,” he added.

The results of the civic elections were declared on April 26 and the appointment of mayors of the three corporations was made in the third week of May.

Delhi BJP general secretary Ravinder Gupta told this newspaper that the decision for appointment of leader of House in the three corporations will be taken within the next 10 days.

“As the core team of state leadership failed to sit and discuss names, the appointment of leader of House has been delayed. But let me assure everyone that appointments will be made in the next 10 days,” added Mr Gupta.

Sources said that during Monday’s North Delhi Municipal Corporation meeting, the party had assigned Jainendra Dabas to act as leader of House. Party vice-president Sikha Rai was seen in the role of leader of House at SDMC on Tuesday.