The stage is set once again in the national capital, Delhi, for the election of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of the municipal corporation. Following the power shift in Delhi, today's culminating moment (April 21) is the deadline for nominations in this first election. The nomination process will close by 5 PM. Yet, neither the Aam Aadmi Party nor the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has revealed any of their moves.
The Mayor election is scheduled for April 25, but there is buzz around the corporation’s equations as well. Previously, on November 14, 2024, the elections saw Aam Aadmi Party's Mahesh Khinchi elected as the Mayor with 133 votes against BJP’s Kishan Lal who secured 130. Back then, the BJP candidate received 10 more votes than the party's strength in the house.
Since then, the scenario in the corporation has dramatically transformed. Out of the 250-member corporation, 11 members have now been elected as legislators. One member was already elected to the Lok Sabha. Currently, 12 seats remain vacant, reducing the strength of the corporation to 238 from 250.
Current Scenario in the Corporation
In terms of political strength, the BJP's numbers have increased, while the Aam Aadmi Party, initially emerging as the largest party in the MCD elections, has slipped to the second spot. Presently, BJP holds 117 seats, Aam Aadmi Party 113, and Congress eight. Including Delhi's seven Lok Sabha and three Rajya Sabha MPs, along with 14 nominated legislators by the Governor, the house strength reaches 262.
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BJP's Advantageous Equation for the Mayor Election
This time, the equations in the Mayor election appear favorable for the BJP. Any party needs 132 votes to claim the Mayor's position. The BJP has 117 councilors, along with support from seven Lok Sabha members and 11 out of 14 nominated legislators, raising their strength to 135, which is three more than the required 132.
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The Aam Aadmi Party has three nominated legislators and three Rajya Sabha MPs. With a total of 119 votes in hand, and even if Congress's eight councilors vote in their favor, the Aam Aadmi Party can only gather 127 votes, falling five short of the necessary 132.
