The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) held elections for a new mayor and deputy mayor, which were won by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The election is significant as the civic body is yet to elect the powerful Standing Committee, which plays an important role in local civic governance.
The incumbent mayor, Shelly Oberoi of the AAP, was pitted against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) councillor from Greater Kailash, Shikha Rai. Similarly, incumbent deputy mayor Aaley Mohammad Iqbal of the AAP was pitted against the BJP’s Soni Pandey from the Sonia Vihar ward in East Delhi.
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The win comes as a big relief for AAP, being the ruling party in the MCD. MCD elections for mayor and deputy mayor are held by secret ballot, and anti-defection laws do not apply. The electoral college is composed of 250 elected councillors, 14 MLAs, and 10 MPs. After winning 134 of the 250 municipal wards in the December 4 civic elections, the AAP had a clear numerical advantage.
Oberoi’s appointment as mayor will make her the ninth such mayor in MCD’s history. Only eight mayors have served for more than a year.