Five councilors from the Aam Aadmi Party have joined the BJP. Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva, speaking to media during their induction, claimed the councilors were distressed by the pressure to mobilize crowds for AAP leaders. The councilors—Ramchandra from Ward 28 (Narela Zone), Pawan Sehrawat from Ward 30 (Narela Zone), Mamta Pawan from Ward 177 (Central Zone), Sugandha Bidhu from Ward 178 (Central Zone), and Manju Nirmal from Ward 180 (Central Zone)—have defected to the BJP.
With this shift, BJP has gained the majority in 7 out of 12 zones: 5 zones (Shahdara North, Shahdara South, Keshavpuram, Najafgarh, and Civil Lines) initially held by BJP are now joined by Narela and Central Zones post-defections. Conversely, AAP retains its majority in only 5 zones (South, West, Rohini, City Sadar-Paharganj, and Karol Bagh), losing Narela and Central.
BJP's 7-zone majority guarantees 7 members in the standing committee, with 2 already chosen by the house, totaling 9—a magic number for the 18-member committee. AAP's 5-zone majority provides 3 house members, summing up to 8 members, just one short of the magic number after these developments.
Furthermore, BJP's bid for the chairmanship and deputy chairmanship of the standing committee is now stronger. This influence extends beyond the standing committee to the election of a new mayor from the Scheduled Castes. However, the votes of Congress councilors will play a crucial role.
What is the Standing Committee, and how powerful is it?
The Standing Committee, also known as the Permanent Committee, is the most powerful body in the Delhi Municipal Corporation. The mayor and deputy mayor have limited decision-making power compared to the standing committee's 18 members, who make almost all significant financial and administrative decisions before these are presented to the house. Hence, the standing committee wields considerable power.
How is the Standing Committee Election Conducted?
The standing committee's 18 members are elected through two methods: initially, 6 members are elected via secret voting in the house meeting using preferential voting akin to Rajya Sabha elections. If the first preference does not yield results, subsequent preferences are counted based on proportional representation. The remaining 12 members are elected from 12 different zones, where nominated aldermen also have voting rights.
Councilors Explain Why They Left AAP
The 5 defecting councilors cited frustration with AAP's top leadership's corruption and inspiration from Prime Minister Modi’s public service commitment as reasons for joining BJP. BJP President Sachdeva criticized the corruption-ridden AAP government for stalling development in Delhi over the past decade, expressing confidence in serving the public alongside new BJP members.
Impact on Assembly Elections?
AAP, led by Arvind Kejriwal, plans to contest the upcoming assembly elections but may face challenges due to MCD’s issues with cleanliness and street maintenance. Questions remain on how AAP will combat anti-incumbency, with many councilors and legislators operating in disjunction. The long-standing absence of a standing committee has stalled local projects, as noted by AAP councilor Narendra Girsa from Manglapuri.
Will Defection Impact AAP Heavily?
With less than six months to the Delhi Assembly elections, AAP may face severe repercussions from councilor defections to BJP. Sources claim many are disgruntled and seeking safe exits. Some councilors have privately remarked feeling like the opposition despite winning 250 MCD seats.
