After handing over the reins of MCD to BJP without a contest, AAP has now appointed in-charges for the 12 vacant seats in the corporation’s House. These seats will see bypolls soon. The AAP was routed in the February Assembly elections — it was reduced to 28 seats from 52 in 2020 — leading to the formation of a BJP government in the national capital. In the recently held Mayoral polls, the AAP refused to contest — the BJP won and returned to power in the MCD after two years. The AAP is now aiming to regain lost ground through these ward by-elections, hoping to strengthen its numbers and boost the morale of its workers, leaders said. In the MCD elections held in December 2022, AAP secured 134 of the 250 seats, while the BJP won 104 and the Congress 9. The remaining seats went to Independents. However, with the anti-defection law not applicable to the MCD, ongoing poaching of councillors has shifted the balance: AAP now holds 113 seats, the BJP 117, and Congress 8. The party has appointed in-charges for the vacant wards, assigning many of its former MLAs to the role. Vinay Mishra, former MLA from Dwarka, has been put in charge of the Dwarka B ward, which became vacant after Kamaljeet Sehrawat was elected MP from West Delhi. Former Vikaspuri MLA Mahinder Yadav will oversee Dichaon Kalan in Najafgarh; former Jangpura MLA Praveen Kumar is in charge of the Dakshinpuri ward; former Kondli MLA Kuldeep Kumar will handle the Patparganj ward, and former Kirari MLA Rituraj Jha will manage the Wazirpur ward. Former minister Raghuvinder Shokeen is overseeing the Mundka ward, while former Karol Bagh MLA Vishesh Ravi is assigned to the Rajinder Nagar ward. Former MCD Mayor Shelly Oberoi will lead efforts in the Chandni Chowk ward. A senior AAP leader said, “The in-charges have been appointed based on their accessibility, seniority, understanding of the area and its demography, as well as caste and voter profile. For now, they’ve been tasked with organising workers, holding Vidhan Sabha-level meetings, and conducting political activities.”
