The mayoral elections of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) are being held today, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) expected to secure a comfortable victory as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has opted out of the contest.
Ahead of the polls, Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva held a meeting with party councillors and leaders, urging them to ensure full participation and focus on civic issues.
Sachdeva asked councillors to prioritise cleanliness across the city and work with MLAs to improve ground-level conditions, especially as the civic body aims to clear all three landfill sites within the next 15 months.
The meeting, held at the party’s state headquarters, was aimed at presenting a united front before voting for the mayor, deputy mayor and three vacant Standing Committee seats.
The electoral college for the mayoral polls has 273 members, including councillors, MLAs and MPs. A candidate needs 137 votes to win. BJP is currently ahead with around 143 votes, while AAP has about 105.
BJP has fielded Pravesh Wahi, a three-time councillor, as its mayoral candidate. With AAP staying away and Congress nominating Haji Zarif, BJP is likely to face little resistance.
The party’s strength has increased after recent political shifts, including the entry of Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal into BJP, further boosting its numbers.
Senior BJP leaders said the next Mayor will focus on ending administrative delays and speeding up civic projects in the city.
Sachdeva said the current MCD House has been effective, adding that "although the party initially came in as a minority, it later became the largest party and, with allied support, succeeded in electing its Mayor last year and is now running the municipal administration."
Union Minister of State Harsh Malhotra also addressed the meeting and said recent civic poll victories in Gujarat have boosted the party’s confidence. He urged councillors to ensure full attendance and a strong win.
Source: India Latest News, Breaking News Today, Top News Headlines | Times Now
