Delhi civic body witnesses punches, kicks as massive fight breaks out between AAP, BJP over one vote
New Delhi/IBNS: A massive fight broke out between Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) councillors inside the house of Delhi's civic body after the Mayor declared one vote invalid in the election to six members of a key municipal committee.
After the Mayor's action, the BJP interrupted the counting of votes. The Mayor, however, insisted the result will be declared without the invalid vote.
Following this, utter chaos broke out as councillors from both sides punched, kicked, slapped and pushed one another amid shouting.
Some councillors were seen with their kurtas torn while one of them also collapsed.
Earlier, members of the ruling AAP and the BJP climbed on tables and shouted slogans against each other in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) house.
BJP members said they will not allow a recount.
At least 242 of the 250 councillors in the AAP-run civic body voted to select six members for the MCD's standing committee, which is a powerful body that decides how funds are to be used and on what projects.
After the mayor, AAP leader Shelly Oberoi, declared one vote invalid, she came under the firing line of angry BJP councillors, who shouted "you are not in your senses" at her.
Some BJP councillors shouted "Jai Shri Ram" and praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Their rivals from the AAP shot back, "Aam Aadmi Party zindabad, Arvind Kejriwal zindabad."
TFriday's fight was a big escalation since January, the last time AAP and BJP councillors threw punches at one another when voting was held to elect the Mayor. The Mayor's election had to be postponed several times.