‘Joining BJP was my biggest mistake’: Days after switch to BJP, councillor returns to AAP

Meanwhile, four AAP councillors have written to the Mayor and Commissioner, requesting the re-scheduling of the ward committee elections. A petition has also been filed in the High Court seeking its postponement.

Elections for the 12 ward committees are crucial because 12 of the 18 members of the Standing Committee, which serves as the MCD’s financial backbone, are elected during these polls. No developmental task costing more than Rs 5 crore can proceed without the Standing Committee’s approval.

Chander had joined the BJP along with four other AAP councillors on August 25. Speaking to The Indian Express last week, he had cited the unapproachability of the party’s top leadership as the reason behind his switch. A former MLA — he had won the Bawana Assembly bypoll in 2017 — Chander also voiced his dissatisfaction with the AAP for not giving him a ticket in the 2020 Delhi Legislative Assembly elections.

AAP, meanwhile, credited leaders Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh for Chander’s return. “The day before yesterday, Ram Chander had joined BJP, but today, he has come back to Aam Aadmi Party… Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh got Ram Chander back to join Aam Aadmi Party,” the party stated.

On the face of it, Chander’s return could have implications for the ward committee elections, particularly in Narela Zone — he was one of two AAP councillors from this zone who had switched to the BJP.

Before his return, the BJP’s tally in the Narela ward had gone up to 11 — 5 of its own councillors, 2 AAP councillors who defected, and 4 aldermen appointed by the L-G. AAP had eight councillors. With Chander rejoining AAP, the BJP still has a one-vote advantage.

According to MCD officials, the zone has a history of ties during ward committee elections. “In the corporation’s history, a clear majority has been seen in the Narela Zone on very few occasions… in cases where both parties have equal support, a draw of lots takes place,” a senior MCD official associated with the election process said.

‘Reschedule ward committee polls’ 

Meanwhile, four AAP councillors have written to the Mayor and Commissioner, requesting the re-scheduling of the ward committee elections. A petition has also been filed in the High Court seeking postponement of the ward committee elections.

Tilotma Chatterjee, in her letter to the Mayor, said she isn’t in town and can’t return in such a short time. “Further, even if I can return… there is only a day between the date of notice and last date of nomination (which) is highly unreasonable and unheard of as a lot of things have to be undertaken for it, which is not possible in only one day,” she wrote.

After the mayor wrote to the Municipal Secretary on August 23, the former issued an order to submit nominations by August 30.

In similar letters to Commissioner Ashwani Kumar, Prem Chauhan from Dakshinpuri ward and Ashu Thakur from C R Park said that they can’t file their nominations within the stipulated time citing “weakness” and “fever”.

Ramesh Chand from Kirari ward said he cannot file his nomination as his mother is unwell.

The BJP has criticised the move, claiming that the AAP is using various electoral tactics to delay the formation of the standing committee.

“Initially, AAP approached the High Court over the issue of the three BJP members winning seats in the Standing Committee, only to face defeat there. Following this, AAP challenged the appointment of Aldermen by the L-G in the Supreme Court, but the SC upheld the Lt-Governor’s decision. With all avenues closed, the Mayor was compelled to order elections for ward committees and the Standing Committee. Now that the Municipal Secretary has announced the dates, AAP leaders are trying to delay (it) by using their councillors as pawns,” alleged Leader of Opposition in the MCD, Raja Iqbal Singh.

BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor said, “It is now clear whether it is the standing committee or ward committee elections, the BJP is set to win which is why the AAP is preventing the elections from taking place.”