AAP suspends 3 women MCD councillors over cross-voting in ward polls
Synopsis
AAP has suspended three of its own women MCD councillors — days after the BJP swept 10 of 12 ward committee chairperson posts and 5 of 6 Standing Committee seats. Party insiders say cross-voting by the trio made the action unavoidable, exposing a deepening crack in AAP's municipal bloc just two and a half years after its landmark MCD victory.
Key Takeaways
AAP suspended three women MCD councillors — Nirmala Devi (Sharma) , Krishna Devi Raghav , and Sultana Abad — on 16 July with immediate effect.
The suspension order was signed by Delhi AAP chief Saurabh Bharadwaj , citing anti-party activities.
Party insiders say the trio allegedly cross-voted for the BJP in MCD ward committee elections held on 15 July .
The BJP won Chairperson posts in 10 of 12 ward committees and 5 of 6 Standing Committee seats in those elections.
AAP councillor Vikas Taank (Civil Lines) had already defected to the BJP ahead of the polls, further weakening AAP's MCD strength.
The 18-member Standing Committee — MCD's highest financial authority — now has 12 BJP members against 6 AAP members.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday, 16 July suspended three of its serving women councillors in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) with immediate effect, citing anti-party activities and conduct deemed unbecoming during the recent zonal ward committee elections. The suspension order was signed by Delhi AAP chief Saurabh Bharadwaj.
The Three Councillors Suspended
The three women councillors removed from the party are Nirmala Devi (Sharma), Krishna Devi Raghav, and Sultana Abad. All three held active positions as MCD councillors at the time of their suspension. The AAP leadership has not publicly detailed the specific charges, but party insiders say the action 'became unavoidable' after the three reportedly cross-voted in favour of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during the MCD ward committee polls.
What Triggered the Action
The suspensions follow closely on the heels of elections held on 15 July at the MCD headquarters, Civic Centre, for Chairpersons and deputy chairpersons of the 12 ward committees, as well as for 6 vacant seats on the 18-member Standing Committee. The results were a significant setback for AAP: the BJP won the Chairperson's post in 10 of 12 ward committees and secured 5 of 6 contested Standing Committee seats. AAP managed to retain only 2 ward committee posts and 1 Standing Committee seat.
This comes amid a broader erosion of AAP's foothold in the MCD. Just ahead of these elections, AAP councillor Vikas Taank of the Civil Lines ward defected to the BJP, further thinning AAP's numbers in the civic body and bolstering the BJP's tally.
Why the Standing Committee Matters
The 18-member Standing Committee is the MCD's apex decision-making authority, holding final power over financial approvals, contracts, civic projects, and policy proposals involving more than ₹5 crore. With the committee now comprising 12 BJP members against 6 AAP members, the ruling party at the Centre effectively controls Delhi's primary civic body — a significant shift in the balance of municipal power.
AAP's Shrinking MCD Presence
AAP had swept the MCD elections in December 2022, ending the BJP's 15-year stranglehold on the corporation. However, a combination of defections and cross-voting has steadily chipped away at that mandate. Critics argue that internal discipline failures and the party's preoccupation with state-level political battles have left its MCD group vulnerable to poaching. The suspension of the three councillors signals that the party leadership is now moving to contain further haemorrhaging, even if the damage from the ward committee elections has already been done.
With the BJP now firmly in command of the MCD's key committees, the coming months will test whether AAP can consolidate its remaining councillors or faces further attrition ahead of the next civic cycle.
Point of View
Not a solution. AAP's MCD bloc has been leaking since the party's state-level political turbulence intensified, and cross-voting in ward committee polls is a symptom of that — not the disease. The BJP now controls the MCD Standing Committee, effectively reversing the civic mandate AAP won in December 2022 without a single fresh election. The harder question AAP must answer is why its councillors felt little cost in voting against the party line, and whether suspensions alone can hold together a municipal group that appears to be losing faith in the leadership's ability to protect its interests at the civic level.
NationPress
16 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did AAP suspend three MCD councillors on 16 July?
AAP suspended councillors Nirmala Devi (Sharma) , Krishna Devi Raghav , and Sultana Abad for alleged anti-party activities, specifically cross-voting in favour of the BJP during MCD ward committee elections held on 15 July. The party cited their 'questionable conduct' as grounds for immediate suspension.
Who signed the AAP suspension order?
The suspension order was signed by Delhi AAP president Saurabh Bharadwaj . The party has not publicly elaborated on the specific charges beyond citing anti-party activities.
What were the MCD ward committee election results on 15 July?
The BJP won the Chairperson's post in 10 of 12 MCD ward committees and secured 5 of 6 vacant Standing Committee seats. AAP won only 2 ward committee posts and 1 Standing Committee seat , marking a significant setback.
What is the MCD Standing Committee and why does it matter?
The 18-member Standing Committee is the Municipal Corporation of Delhi's highest decision-making body. It holds final authority over financial approvals, contracts, and civic projects worth more than ₹5 crore . With 12 BJP members now on the panel against 6 from AAP, the BJP effectively controls Delhi's civic finances.
Has AAP lost other councillors to the BJP recently?
Yes. AAP councillor Vikas Taank from the Civil Lines ward defected to the BJP shortly before the ward committee elections, weakening AAP's numerical strength in the MCD and bolstering the BJP's position in the civic body.
