Councillor Defections Stir Up MCD Ward Committee Elections

With the upcoming MCD zonal-level ward committee elections, both AAP and BJP are experiencing councillor defections. The elections, set for September 4, are vital for forming the standing committee. While AAP claims new councillors are joining them, BJP cites frustrations with AAP as a reason for defection.

As the MCD zonal-level ward committee elections approach, AAP and BJP have both asserted that councillors from the opposing camp are poised to defect.

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on Wednesday confirmed the date for the long-awaited ward committee elections, which are crucial for the establishment of the standing committee, MCD's highest decision-making body responsible for approving proposals involving expenditures of Rs 5 crore and above. These elections are scheduled for September 4 and will be conducted through a secret ballot across 12 zones.

A senior AAP functionary revealed that six councillors are expected to join the party soon, despite a recent setback where five members defected to the BJP. Meanwhile, the BJP has welcomed back five councillors and expects more AAP councillors to leave due to alleged corruption within AAP. The anti-defection law, which punishes individual MPs/MLAs for defecting, is currently not in force in the MCD.

(With inputs from agencies.)