BJP set to win MCD Mayor, Deputy Mayor’s posts unopposed as AAP bows out

Ahead of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) mayoral elections scheduled for April 25, the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has decided not to contest the polls, clearing the path for Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders to will both the Mayor and Deputy Mayor posts unopposed.

At a press conference on Monday, Delhi Assembly’s Leader of Opposition Atishi and AAP’s Delhi president Saurabh Bhardwaj announced the party’s decision to withdraw from the race, citing BJP’s alleged horse-trading and a lack of sufficient numbers in the House.

“The BJP has increased its numbers through horse-trading and breaking councillors. If the AAP wants to win the mayoral elections, the only way left is to buy or break councillors. But we don’t believe in such politics, which is why we withdrew from the race,” said Atishi.

With AAP’s withdrawal, BJP’s nominee and current MCD Leader of Opposition Raja Iqbal Singh is now set to become the Mayor of Delhi unopposed. Similarly, Jai Bhagwan Yadav, the Deputy Leader of Opposition in the MCD Assembly, is poised to secure the Deputy Mayor post unchallenged.

Both leaders are expected to file their nominations at 1 pm on Monday. They will be accompanied by Union Minister of State Harsh Malhotra, Members of Parliament Yogendra Chandolia and Kamaljeet Sehrawat, along with senior councillors of the party.

Delhi