AAP MP Raghav Chadda claims BJP has decided to support an independent candidate for the Mayor’s post
The BJP has decided to run against the AAP in the election for mayor and deputy mayor of Delhi, making yet another U-turn. Following their defeat in the civic election, the BJP finalised its list of candidates for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) offices, AAP challenged BJP to contest the election with its own candidate.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) won the Delhi Municipal Corporation elections, ending the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) 15-year rule over the civic body.
Following the announcement of the election On Saturday, the Aam Aadmi Party urged the Bharatiya Janata Party to run for Mayor of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) rather than choosing an independent candidate.
AAP Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha said, “BJP is planning to set up an independent candidate like a coward in the MCD mayoral elections. It had announced that it will not contest the mayoral election, but is now fielding an independent candidate, who will be supported by all BJP councillors.”
He stated that the AAP was learning from the opposition that the BJP intended to fight Shelly Oberoi for the job of the Mayor by endorsing an independent candidate who would have the support of all BJP council members.
“You call yourselves the biggest party in the world, so why do you fear AAP so much? Come out and fight directly and let the people of Delhi decide which party should form the government and which party should have the Mayor’s post,” Mr Chadha said.
Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday named national Mahila Morcha president Rekha Gupta as its Mayor candidate for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).
Gupta, who was elected from the Shalimar Bagh ward, has been working with the BJP ever since she was in college. She served as the Delhi University Students Union’s (DUSU) president and general secretary from 1996 to 1997. She has also served as the general secretary of the Delhi BJP and a member of the BJP national executive. Pitampura, in North Delhi, is Gupta’s stronghold; from 2007 to 2014, she served twice as a council member from North Pitampura (Ward 54).
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The BJP also put forward Kamal Bagadi, who won the Ram Nagar ward election for the deputy mayor post.
The AAP, which now has the most council members in the local body, has announced Shelly Oberoi as its Mayoral candidate and Aale Mohammad Iqbal for the race for the deputy Mayor’s post. Ms Oberoi is a Councillor from East Patel Nagar and Ms Iqbal is from Chandani Mahal.
With God's blessings and the support of the people of Delhi, I filed my nomination as AAP's Candidate for the election of Mayor of MCD.
I thank party's leadership @ipathak25, @Saurabh_MLAgk, @AtishiAAP @AdilKhanAAP for their support, blessings and their presence today. pic.twitter.com/koBzp0Wmld
— Dr. Shelly Oberoi (@OberoiShelly) December 26, 2022
The election for Delhi’s next Mayor and Deputy Mayor will be held on January 6, 2023, when the MCD House will assemble for its first meeting and all newly elected councillors will be administered the oath.
AAP won 134 wards in the MCD elections earlier this month, toppling the BJP, which had ruled the former civic body (now merged) for 15 years. Nine wards voted to the Congress, while three went to independent candidates.
The first and third years of the municipality’s five-year term for the position of mayor are set aside for women and people from Scheduled Castes (SC), respectively.
