MCD polls to be AAP’s first big test after CM’s arrest; nobody will crossvote, say councillors

A day after the Delhi mayoral elections were announced, several Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillors told The Hindu that they are “standing together to ensure a victory” for their party.

The annual polls, scheduled for April 26, will elect the next Mayor and Deputy Mayor of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). It will be the first big electoral test for AAP after the arrest of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

“Despite everything going on, I have not heard any chatter of crossvoting,” said a senior AAP councillor who did not wish to be named.

Several other councillors added that it was “time for them to support the party, which had in turn put faith in them”.

“While there has been some instability due to the failure to form zonal committees and the Standing Committee, it does not mean that any of us will stray from AAP,” another councillor said.

However, as antidefection laws do not apply in these polls, crossvoting is technically permitted.

AAP currently holds a majority in the MCD with 134 councillors of the total 250, while the BJP leads the Opposition with 104 councillors. The Congress has only nine councillors, and three councillors are Independent.

The Mayor is chosen by an electoral college, which comprises the 250 elected councillors; the seven Lok Sabha and three Rajya Sabha MPs belonging to the State; 14 MLAs who are conferred voting rights by the Assembly Speaker; and 10 aldermen, who do not have voting rights in the House proceedings.

While AAP is likely to have the support of the three Rajya Sabha MPs, who are all members of the party, the Opposition will likely be backed by the seven Lok Sabha MPs, who belong to the BJP.

While AAP holds a majority with 134 councillors, the BJP is a close second with 104 councillors