MCD mayoral polls: Two AAP councillors in nomination race, party walks a tightrope to decide final pick

This year, the Mayor’s seat is reserved for individuals from the Scheduled Caste (SC) category. The AAP has 32 SC councillors among a total of 134.

Going by the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, during the five-year tenure of the MCD House, a woman candidate will be appointed as mayor in the first year, a general candidate in the second year, candidates from a scheduled caste in the third year, and a general candidate for the fourth and fifth years. In the first and second tenures of the MCD House, the AAP — which won the MCD polls in December 2022 — had nominated Shelly Oberoi as Mayor, who bagged the post both times.
Sources said both Chaudhary and Chauhan have long-standing affiliations with AAP. Earlier, Mohini Jeenwal from Sunder Nagri and Vikas Tonk from Civil Lines were also in the

running, but after deliberations, Chaudhary and Chauhan emerged as primary candidates, sources added.

Chauhan, currently in his second term as an MCD councillor, previously served as the Leader of Opposition in the erstwhile South Delhi Municipal Corporation. Chaudhary, on the other hand, has been the president of the party’s state women’s wing and was a member of the Delhi Commission for Women.

Both have been active in MCD council meetings. Party sources had earlier claimed that the party is looking to field a male candidate for the mayor’s post this year, giving Chauhan an advantage. However, Chaudhary is not out of the running yet.

“A meeting with the senior leadership and councillors was held on Monday to discuss the final candidates for the post of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor… a majority of the councillors are in support of Chauhan for the Mayor’s post,” a party leader said.

In the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) camp, there is no decision yet. “Discussions have taken place… we are likely to announce the candidates on Wednesday. We will give a tough fight,” a source from the BJP said.

The BJP has a total of 6 SC councillors among its total of 104.