On Wednesday, September 25, 2024, the Delhi unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) claimed that the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has lost its majority in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), asserting that AAP no longer has the right to remain in power. Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor stated that the ruling AAP has lost its majority among the elected councilors of the MCD and therefore lacks the moral authority to govern.
Speaking to the media, Kapoor explained that the MCD currently has 249 elected councilors, and AAP now holds only 124 seats, while the majority mark stands at 125. He further criticized AAP Mayor Dr. Shelly Oberoi’s leadership, accusing her of stalling the MCD’s operations and failing to address its basic responsibilities. Kapoor pointed out that sanitation services are at their worst, and mosquito-borne diseases like dengue and malaria are spreading unchecked, yet the mayor seems indifferent to finding solutions.
Earlier that day, three AAP municipal councilors—Preeti from Dilshad Colony ward, Sarita Phogat from Green Park ward, and Praveen Kumar from Madanpur Khadar East ward—joined the BJP in the presence of Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva. The BJP noted that the councilors officially filled out membership forms and applied for online membership in the presence of Union Minister of State Harsh Malhotra, MP Ramvir Singh Bidhuri, and Leader of Opposition in the MCD, Sardar Raja Iqbal Singh.
Preeti, councilor from Dilshad Colony, told The Daily Guardian that she initially joined AAP with the hope of seeing meaningful change in India. However, she expressed disappointment, accusing Arvind Kejriwal of being mired in corruption and forcing her to the point where she could no longer support him. She added that AAP only values leaders who blindly follow Kejriwal’s directives. Preeti criticized the party’s leadership, saying that Atishi’s rise to Chief Minister was not due to her qualifications but because she acts as a puppet. She also emphasized that she is not like Swati Maliwal, stating she would not tolerate harassment. Preeti vowed to continue fighting for her constituency without bowing to pressure.
Praveen Kumar, councilor from Madanpur Khadar East, explained his reasons for joining the BJP. He represents a highly underdeveloped ward and felt that AAP’s leadership, including the mayor, was unresponsive to councilors’ concerns. By joining the BJP, he hopes to better address and resolve public issues in his ward.
Notably, the MCD is set to hold a crucial Standing Committee election on September 26, 2024. This election is for the final vacant seat, which became available after BJP member Kamaljeet Sehrawat was elected to the Lok Sabha from West Delhi. Although Delhi currently has an AAP mayor, the recent defection of two councilors to the BJP could bolster the party’s position in the election for Standing Committee member and chairman.
The Standing Committee is a key statutory body responsible for major financial decisions, policy implementation, and other critical matters. Comprising 18 members, it is one of the most influential bodies within the MCD, controlling the corporation’s financial resources. The MCD’s governance has been hampered by the lack of a fully established committee, impacting its ability to function efficiently.