Will MCD By-elections in 12 Wards Impact BJP's Rekha Gupta Government?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- The MCD by-elections are taking place today in 12 wards.
- Results are expected on December 3.
- The election is a critical test for the BJP-led government.
- 53 candidates are contesting for the vacant council seats.
- The outcomes may influence future political strategies for the involved parties.
New Delhi, Nov 30 (NationPress) Today marks the by-elections for new councillors in 12 wards of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). This triangular contest is perceived as a crucial referendum on the performance of the BJP-led Rekha Gupta government in the Capital.
The results of these by-elections will be announced on December 3.
In the lead-up to the elections, both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have exerted considerable effort to sway the electorate. Chief Minister Gupta spearheaded the BJP’s campaign, while former CM and AAP leader Atishi took charge for her party.
Senior leaders from each party traversed the city, making impassioned appeals to garner support in this highly scrutinized civic battle.
A total of 53 candidates are vying for the 12 positions. The BJP previously held nine of the twelve vacant wards in this electoral round. The last civic elections took place over 250 seats in December 2022, leading to a current MCD House comprised of 115 BJP councillors after various party shifts.
The BJP is targeting a 12-0 victory in today’s by-elections to secure the absolute majority mark of 125 in the 250-member civic assembly. A strong performance is anticipated to bolster Chief Minister Gupta's reputation and provide positive feedback on her e-bus initiatives, health insurance programs, and arrangements for Chhath devotees.
This contest is equally essential for the AAP, which currently has 99 councillors and aims to reclaim lost ground in the political arena after ceding power to the BJP in the Assembly elections held in February.
The Congress party is also making significant efforts to secure a few wards in this election, aiming to maintain its relevance in a political landscape that is largely dominated by the BJP and AAP.
The need for these by-elections arose when councillors from these wards were elected to Parliament and the Delhi Assembly within the past year. Eleven councillors, including CM Gupta, transitioned to become Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs).
The Dwarka-B ward has been unoccupied since last year following the election of the BJP's Kamaljeet Sehrawat as a Member of Parliament from West Delhi. The vacant wards include Mundka, Shalimar Bagh-B, Ashok Vihar, Chandni Chowk, Chandni Mahal, Dwarka B, Dichaon Kalan, Naraina, Sangam Vihar-A, Dakshin Puri (SC), Greater Kailash, and Vinod Nagar.
These wards are part of key Assembly constituencies such as Mundka, Wazirpur, Matiala, Najafgarh, Rajender Nagar, Deoli, and Patparganj.