BJP plans triple engine government in Delhi

BJP aims to capture MCD from AAP, potentially forming a 'triple engine government' in Delhi.

- TIKAM SHARMA

After ending its 27-year-long political exile in Delhi, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is now setting its sights on capturing the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the upcoming mayoral elections.

If successful, this would establish a "triple engine government" in the national capital, with the BJP controlling the central government, the state government, and the civic body. The mayoral elections are scheduled to take place in April, unless they are delayed due to the 12 vacant seats, which were left unoccupied after their representatives were elected as MLAs in the recently concluded Assembly elections.

A total of 12 seats in the MCD are currently vacant. This includes 11 members who were elected as MLAs in the February 2025 Assembly elections and one member who became an MP in June 2024.

The MCD consists of 250 wards, which go to polls every five years. The last elections for these 250 councillor seats were conducted in 2022. However, the election of the Mayor takes place annually. Out of the five mayoral elections in a term, the first is reserved for a woman, and the third is designated for a Scheduled Caste (SC) candidate.