Stage set for MCD mayoral polls as BJP holds clear edge over opposition

Amid heavy security arrangements, the stage is set for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi MCD mayoral elections with major parties announcing their candidates and the electoral arithmetic indicating a clean sweep for BJP candidates for mayor and deputy mayor positions. On Monday, Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta nominated 14 MLAs to the electoral college for the mayoral poll, including 11 from the BJP and three from the AAP.

Amid heavy security arrangements, the stage is set for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) mayoral elections with major parties announcing their candidates and the electoral arithmetic indicating a clean sweep for BJP candidates for mayor and deputy mayor positions. The BJP has fielded Pravesh Wahi from Rohini East for the mayor's post, Monika Pant, councillor from Anand Vihar, for deputy mayor, Jai Bhagwan Yadav from Begumpur for the standing committee, and Manish Chadha from Paharganj. Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has decided not to participate in the election. Although AAP has nominated Jalaj Choudhary from Shalimar Bagh for a standing committee seat. The Congress has named Kabir Nagar councillor Haji Zarif for mayor and Mubarakpur councillor Rajesh Kumar Gupta for deputy mayor. Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu has appointed the outgoing mayor, Raja Iqbal Singh, as the presiding officer for the election. Going by the current numbers, the BJP appears to have an edge with 142 votes, including 123 councillors, seven Lok Sabha MPs, one Rajya Sabha MP and 11 MLAs. The AAP has 105 votes, comprising 100 councillors, three MLAs and two Rajya Sabha members, with Swati Maliwal having recently quit the party and joined the BJP. The Indraprastha Vikas Party has 15 councillors, the Congress eight, while there are two independents and one vacant seat. On Monday, Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta nominated 14 MLAs to the electoral college for the mayoral poll, including 11 from the BJP and three from the AAP. The next general election for all 250 MCD wards is likely in 2027, as the House has a five-year term from its first meeting in late 2022, while the mayor's tenure under the DMC Act is one year.