Another shocker to AAP in Delhi: Three councillors switch to BJP; MCD power tussle intensifies in national capital
PTC Web Desk: After winning the Delhi Assembly elections, the BJP is now eyeing control of the Delhi Municipal Corporation (MCD) as three Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillors switched allegiance to the BJP on Saturday.
The councillors who joined the BJP are Anita Basoya from Andrews Ganj, Dharmveer from RK Puram, and Nikhil from Chaprana. Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva formally inducted them into the party. Along with them, four other AAP leaders, including former New Delhi district president Sandeep Basoya, also joined the BJP.
The MCD has a total of 250 councillor seats. After the Assembly elections, AAP's strength reduced from 121 to 118 councillors as three members won legislative seats. Meanwhile, the BJP's strength decreased from 120 to 112 after eight of its councillors were elected as MLAs.
With the defection of three AAP councillors to the BJP, both parties are now tied with 115 seats each, creating a deadlock ahead of the upcoming MCD mayoral elections.
MCD mayoral polls scheduled for April
The MCD mayoral election is set to take place in April. The last election was held in November 2024, with a short five-month tenure as per the annual April schedule for MCD mayoral polls. In the previous election, AAP's Mahesh Khinchi defeated BJP's Kishan Lal by three votes, securing 133 votes against Lal's 130, while two votes were declared invalid.
After welcoming the new members, Virendra Sachdeva criticised AAP for alleged corruption scandals, including the “Sheesh Mahal” controversy, liquor scam, Jal Board scandal, panic button scam, ration card fraud, and Mohalla Clinic irregularities. Sachdeva said, “Every corrupt individual will be held accountable.”
MCD Budget to be presented by February-end
The MCD has not formed its standing committee, the most powerful body within the corporation, for over two and a half years due to ongoing legal disputes. With special permission from the Lieutenant Governor (LG), MCD Commissioner Ashwini Kumar will present the Budget before the House, which must be approved by the end of February.
- With inputs from agencies
