Elections for 2 seats in crucial MCD panel, 12 ward committees on June 2

Rescheduled MCD elections on June 2 after AAP councillors form new party, impacting outcome. BJP has majority.

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on Monday issued a notification announcing that elections for the two seats in its 18-member Standing Committee, which fell vacant following the resignation of the councillors upon being elected as MLAs in February, will be held on June 2. On the same day, the civic body will also hold polls for the posts of chairpersons and deputy chairpersons of each of the 12 ward committees.

The polls were earlier scheduled for May 22, but were rescheduled following tensions between India and Pakistan.

Councillors have until May 27 to file nominations.

The development comes two days after 15 councillors resigned from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and announced their own outfit, the Indraprastha Vikas Party (IVP), citing “centralised decision-making” in the Arvind Kejriwal-led party. AAP is now left with 98 councillors while the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has 117 and the Congress eight.

The anti-defection law, which punishes individual MPs and MLAs for leaving one party for another, is not in force in the municipal body.

The new outfit could impact the outcome of the June 2 elections. Mukesh Goel, former Leader of the MCD House and senior IVP leader, said, “We will nominate our own candidates where we feel we have the numbers. In other seats, we will offer support to the right candidate.”

AAP’s MCD in-charge Durgesh Pathak said, “We will field candidates in each ward. We’re confident in seats where we have the numbers.”