
Delhi MCD's Standing Committee inches closer to formation
The long-delayed formation of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi's (MCD) Standing Committee inched closer to completion on Tuesday after the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Satya Sharma won the election for the committee's last vacant seat.
Sharma, a councillor from Gautampuri ward, secured 130 of the 227 votes cast, defeating the Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) candidate, Hema from Jaitpur, who received 95 votes. Two votes were declared invalid. The seat was previously held by Gajendra Daral, who vacated it after winning in the recent Assembly elections,
Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh congratulated Sharma on her victory, stating that her 'extensive political experience will greatly benefit the Corporation'. He also commended AAP's Hema for putting up a strong fight.
With all 18 seats of the Standing Committee now filled, the MCD is set to hold elections for its Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson on June 12. The nomination process for these key posts will remain open until June 6.
The formation of the Standing Committee, which is the sole decision-making body of the MCD in vetting proposals exceeding Rs 5 crore, was in limbo for over 2.5 years due to several legal and political roadblocks, and constant scuffles between the BJP and the AAP. Several civic projects had been stalled due to the absence of this committee, which serves as the corporation's decision-making arm. The BJP, which won the mayoral elections in April, had pledged to expedite the completion of the committee and restart pending development work.
With the BJP now holding a majority —11 of 18 members— in the Standing Committee, the upcoming leadership elections are likely to consolidate its control over MCD's most powerful panel.

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