The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has declared its intention to serve as a vigilant Opposition in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), holding the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accountable for its service delivery. This statement comes amid a significant political shift, as AAP decided to boycott the upcoming mayoral and deputy mayoral elections, paving the way for an unchallenged victory for the BJP. The BJP’s return to power in the MCD marks over two years since losing the majority to AAP. However, recent defections reduced AAP’s strength from 134 to 114 councillors, while BJP’s numbers grew to 116, aided by defections and three councillors being elected to the Delhi Assembly. Crucially, the anti-defection law, which prevents elected representatives from switching parties, is not applicable in the MCD, underlining the volatile political landscape.
The BJP has nominated Raja Iqbal Singh, the current Leader of the Opposition in the MCD, for the mayor post, while Jai Bhagwan Yadav, representing Begumpur, is the candidate for deputy mayor. The Congress, despite having only eight members, is also contesting the elections. Mandeep Singh, a councillor from Nangloi, and Ariba Khan from the Abul Fazal Enclave have been put forward as their candidates for mayor and deputy mayor, respectively.
Addressing the media, former Mayor Shelly Oberoi accused the BJP, during its time in the Opposition, of obstructing developmental initiatives under AAP’s governance. “With a ‘triple engine’ government—at the Centre, State, and MCD—the BJP is now positioned to deliver on their promises without any excuses,” she asserted. Meanwhile, Mukesh Goel, AAP’s Leader of the House, expressed frustration over initiatives stalled by the MCD Commissioner, whom he claimed acted under BJP’s influence. Goel highlighted a proposal exempting properties under 100 square yards from house tax and offering a 50% rebate for those between 100 and 500 square yards, which despite being passed, remained unimplemented.
Conversely, BJP’s Raja Iqbal Singh expressed optimism about the party’s governance capability. “The people of Delhi have trusted us to resolve the city’s issues, eliminate corruption, and complete pending work,” he declared, marking the party’s commitment to addressing the city’s challenges. Furthermore, Singh mentioned that elections for standing committee positions would soon follow.
The mayoral electoral college comprises 238 councillors, 10 MPs (seven from the Lok Sabha and three from the Rajya Sabha), and 14 MLAs, with 11 from the BJP and three from AAP nominated by Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta. The last mayoral election in November 2024 saw a narrow victory for AAP’s Mahesh Kumar Khinchi, who won by only three votes.
As the political dynamics in Delhi evolve, the upcoming elections are crucial for determining the direction of the city’s governance and public service priorities. The focus will be on transparency, combating corruption, and ensuring the effective delivery of services to Delhi’s residents. With AAP poised to hold BJP accountable, residents await proactive measures to drive growth and resolve the capital’s longstanding issues.
Original Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/mcd-mayoral-polls-will-play-role-of-a-constructive-opposition-says-aap/article69488047.ece
Category : Delhi
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Publish Date: 2025-04-25 01:10:00
