All You Need to Know About Delhi MCD Polls, Process And Rules

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In other news, the Aam Aadmi Party candidate, Shelly Oberoi, has won the Delhi Municipal Corporation Elections. Her victory was uncontested since the Bhartiya Janta Party candidate, Shikha Rai, withdrew her nomination at the last minute. This gives us an opportunity to examine how MCD polls are conducted and what rules and procedures are followed.

The MCD was officially established on April 7, 1958, by an act of Parliament, the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957. Before the 74th amendment to the constitution, a similar body to the municipality existed in Delhi since 1862. The amendment introduced municipalities to urban India and Panchayat systems to rural India, establishing local self-governments.

In 1993, the MCD Act of Parliament was amended, which led to fundamental changes in the composition, functions, governance, and administration of the corporation. The practice of aldermen was abolished, and the number of councilors increased to 134, in addition to the Lok Sabha members who represent wholly or partly the constituencies of the municipal corporation. Earlier this year, the MCD was reunified into one zone by the central government.

One-fifth of the members from the Delhi Legislative Assembly are represented in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi each year. All MPs elected from Delhi are also members of the corporations based on their parliamentary constituencies. The Delhi government nominates MLAs in a prescribed proportion from the Vidhan Sabha to the corporations every year. The Mayor of the MCD is the highest-ranking official in the municipal government of the capital and is elected for five single-year terms on a rotation basis. The member of the MCD selects the Mayor of the capital. The special commissioner oversees the election through a special draw of lots in case of a tie between two candidates.

Voting for the MCD is completed through a secret ballot, and any councilor elected in the MCD can vote for any candidate of their choice, with the anti-defection law not applying in municipal elections. The reservation of the backward classes for the post of Mayor is for the first year of governance, followed by the open category, the reserved category for the third year, and the remaining two years for the open category. It is the Mayor's task to conduct elections for the post of Deputy Mayor and six members of the standing committee. The Mayor presides over all meetings of the Delhi Municipal Corporation, and in case of absence, the Deputy Mayor assumes the Mayor's duties.

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi has certain functions mandated by the constitution, including urban planning, land and building regulations, economic and social development, infrastructure development, water supply management, health and sanitation, and related works.