NEW DELHI: The contest for the top posts in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has taken a decisive turn, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Indian National Congress formally filing nominations for mayor, deputy mayor and Standing Committee positions, while the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has stayed away from the mayoral race.
On the final day for submissions, April 23, the BJP put forward Parvesh Wahi as its mayoral candidate and Monika Pant for the deputy mayor’s position. Wahi, a councillor representing Rohini East and a former Leader of the House, filed his nomination highlighting civic improvements as his core agenda. Pant, who represents Anand Vihar ward, also completed the nomination process the same day.
The Congress has also stepped into the electoral contest, nominating councillor Zarif for the mayor’s post and Rajesh Kumar Gupta for deputy mayor. Both candidates filed their papers, setting up a direct contest between the two parties for the leadership of the civic body.
In contrast, the AAP has chosen not to field candidates for the mayoral and deputy mayoral positions. The party stated that its decision was aimed at allowing the BJP to take full responsibility for governing Delhi’s municipal administration, signalling a strategic political move ahead of the elections.
For the vacant seats in the influential Standing Committee, the BJP nominated Jai Bhagwan Yadav from Begampur and Manish Chaddha from Ward 82. The AAP, however, has entered the fray for one of these seats, with Jalaj Kumar filing his nomination.
Speaking after filing his papers, Parvesh Wahi outlined his priorities, stressing the need for efficient waste management and the strengthening of civic infrastructure across the capital. He indicated that improving sanitation and addressing long-standing urban challenges would remain central to his approach if elected.
The elections for mayor and deputy mayor are scheduled to take place during the MCD House meeting on April 29. The electoral college consists of 273 members, and a candidate must secure at least 137 votes to claim victory, making the contest numerically significant and politically crucial.
Meanwhile, in a parallel development within the civic body, the AAP has reappointed Ankush Narang as the Leader of Opposition. Accepting the role, Narang described it as a reflection of public confidence and assured that his party would continue to actively raise civic concerns.
He noted that the functioning of the House had remained relatively smooth over the past year with the AAP in opposition, contrasting it with earlier periods marked by frequent disruptions. Narang also emphasised that the party had consistently highlighted pressing urban issues, including monsoon preparedness, waterlogging, pollution levels and the spread of vector-borne diseases.
Criticising the BJP’s performance, Narang alleged that the party had fallen short in delivering effective governance within the MCD, and reiterated that the opposition would maintain pressure on the ruling side to address civic challenges faced by Delhi residents.
With political lines clearly drawn and the AAP adopting a distinct stance, the upcoming mayoral election is set to be a key moment in shaping the administrative direction of Delhi’s civic governance.