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Internal dissent hits AAP before MCD bypolls; leadership weighs expulsion of ex-MLAs

The former MLAs are reportedly dissatisfied with the party’s candidate choices for the MCD byelections, said a senior party functionary.

Ahead of MCD bypolls, Delhi AAP chief calls meeting today, likely to expel former MLAsSaurabh Bharadwaj

Days ahead of the MCD bypolls, Delhi AAP chief Saurabh Bharadwaj Tuesday decided to call several of its former MLAs, some of them three-time winners of Assembly polls, for a meeting on Wednesday to discuss a fresh wave of internal dissent among party functionaries. Sources in the party said an announcement may be made on the expulsion of some former MLAs after the meeting.

The former MLAs are reportedly dissatisfied with the party’s candidate choices for the MCD byelections, said a senior party functionary.

“All stakeholders, including some former MLAs and senior party functionaries, are going to be a part of this meeting. The party is planning to make an announcement on the expulsion of these former MLAs due to their disloyalty towards AAP,” the party functionary said.

The infighting is reportedly fueled by displeasure among former MLAs, whose preferred candidates were allegedly denied tickets for the bypolls. The bypolls for the 12 wards of the MCD is scheduled for November 30. Sources further said that the AAP wishes to set an example that disloyalty will not be tolerated.

This comes days after veteran AAP leader Shoaib Iqbal resigned from the party, alleging that it had failed to live up to the expectations of the people of Delhi.

Iqbal, a six-time MLA, has held the Matia Mahal Assembly seat for several parties before he joined the AAP in 2020. His resignation came after AAP refused to give a ticket to his brother-in-law, Kashif Qureshi, for the Chandni Mahal ward in the MCD bypolls. After Iqbal’s resignation, AAP had said that it is committed to promoting dedicated workers and not “parachute candidates.”

AAP’s performance in the byelections, however, is unlikely to create a major impact, as the BJP has 116 councillors in the 250-member MCD House. “The move to expel the former MLAs has also been made considering how the bypoll results won’t impact the overall majority of the house,” said a source.

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In the campaign for the bypolls, BJP candidates have been banking on the party’s governance record, highlighting efforts to reduce landfill heights, a promise that had been made by the AAP before it came to power in the 2022 MCD polls.

AAP, on the other hand, is focusing on the government’s alleged failures in addressing garbage and cleanliness issues while also criticizing the demolition drives carried across the city after the new BJP government took charge in February.

Saman Husain is a Correspondent at The Indian Express. Based in New Delhi, she is an emerging voice in political journalism, reporting on civic governance, elections, migration, and the social consequences of policy, with a focus on ground-reporting across Delhi-NCR and western Uttar Pradesh. Professional Profile Education: She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science (Honours) from Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi, and is an alumna of the Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai. Core Beats: Her reporting focuses on the national capital’s governance and politics. She specializes in Delhi’s civic administration and the city units of the BJP, AAP and Congress. In western Uttar Pradesh, she mostly reports on crime. Specialization: She has a keen interest in electoral processes and politics — her recent contributions include work on electoral roll revisions. Recent Notable Articles (since July 2025) Her recent work reflects a strong show-not-tell approach to storytelling, combining narrative reporting with political and historical context: 1. Politics: “On the banks of the Yamuna, a political tussle for Purvanchali support” (October 6): A report on how migration histories shaped electoral strategies in Delhi before the Bihar elections. “Explained: How Delhi’s natural drainage vanished gradually over the centuries” (September 29): An explanatory piece tracing the historical reasons that eventually led to the erosion of Delhi’s rivers and its impact on perrenial flooding. 2. Longforms “Four weddings, three funerals: How a Uttar Pradesh man swindled insurance companies” (October 7): A long-read reconstructing a chilling fraud by a man who killed three of his family members, including both his parents for insurance proceeds. His fourth wife discovered his fraud… “How Ghaziabad conman operated fake embassy of a country that doesn’t exist — for 9 years” (July 27) : A story on bizarre fraud operation and the institutional blind spots that enabled it. 3. Crime and Justice: “He was 8 when his father was killed. Fifteen years later, in UP’s Shamli, he took revenge” (October 18): A deeply reported crime story tracing cycles of violence, memory and justice in rural Uttar Pradesh. “Who killed 19 girls in Nithari? With the SC rejecting appeals, there are no answers and no closure” (July 31): A report capturing the long legal and emotional aftermath of one of India’s most chilling unsolved criminal cases. 4. Policy Impact “At Manthan, over US tariffs, Delhi-NCR’s apparel industry brainstorms solutions” (September 8) and “Trump’s 50% tariff begins to bite: Agra’s leather belt feels the impact” (August 13) : Reports documenting how global trade decisions ripple through local industries, workers and exporters. Signature Style Saman is recognized for her grassroots storytelling. Her articles often focus on the "people behind the policy". She is particularly skilled at taking mundane administrative processes and turning them into compelling human narratives. X (Twitter): @SamanHusain9 ... Read More

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