BJP gains majority in MCD panel as AAP, Cong boycott election

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured the last vacant seat of the 18-member Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) Standing Committee unopposed on Friday.

- SURUCHI KUMARI

The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress councillors boycotted the election, citing procedural violations and declaring the poll "unconstitutional." BJP's candidate, Sunder Singh, received all 115 votes from the party's councillors, while AAP's candidate, Nirmala Kumari, received no votes as her party abstained from participating.

With this result, the BJP now holds 10 seats in the influential panel, giving it a majority over the ruling AAP, which holds eight seats. Despite being the Opposition party in the 250-member MCD House, where AAP has 128 councillors to the BJP's 115, the Standing Committee's structure now gives the BJP an upper hand in approving key administrative and financial decisions. As the highest decision-making body, its members have considerable authority over the allocation of funds and approval of projects, particularly those exceeding Rs 5 crore. The committee's recommendations are essential for moving proposals to the MCD House for final approval.