The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has officially commenced the process for electing a new mayor. The election, slated for the last week of April, is likely to be a significant political event, as it marks the beginning of the new civic body’s yearly cycle. This time, general candidates are eligible to contest, making it a more open and competitive race compared to previous years.
The municipal secretary’s office has already forwarded the necessary documents to the mayor’s office, awaiting confirmation of the date for the election. Once the date is set, the MCD will initiate the formal process of inviting nominations from potential candidates. Simultaneously, the MCD is in talks with the Lieutenant Governor’s office to nominate a presiding officer who will oversee the election proceedings. The mayoral election will take place in the same session as the election for the deputy mayor. Additionally, the standing committee seat vacated by a former councillor, who recently won a state assembly election, will also be up for grabs. This adds another layer of complexity to an already closely watched event. According to officials, the election for the standing committee will involve the filling of one of the 18 seats, six of which are directly elected from the House, with the remaining twelve chosen from zonal committees.
The MCD Act stipulates that the mayoral election must be held annually during the first meeting of the MCD’s fiscal cycle starting in April. However, the last election, which was delayed by several months due to a dispute over the appointment of the presiding officer, was only held in November. During that election, the incumbent mayor narrowly secured victory, winning by a mere three votes in a tightly contested race against the BJP’s candidate. At present, the political landscape of the MCD is marked by intense competition. The BJP holds 117 seats, while the AAP has 113, and Congress has eight. Following the results of the recent state assembly elections, several seats in the MCD remain vacant, including one that was previously held by a newly elected Member of Parliament. As things stand, there are 12 vacant seats in the MCD, which could influence the outcome of the upcoming mayoral election. Officials have indicated that the DMC Act does not require by-elections to fill these vacancies before the mayoral election, so the BJP could stand to gain an advantage with these vacant positions.
The election process itself is conducted through an electoral college that includes the 250 MCD councillors, 10 Members of Parliament, 14 MLAs nominated by the Speaker, and 10 aldermen, who do not have voting rights but are part of the process. The BJP, with its strong representation in both the MCD and the Legislative Assembly, is expected to have an edge in terms of support. With the backing of 11 BJP MLAs and additional support from Members of Parliament, the BJP is positioned to hold a numerical advantage, which could tilt the scales in their favour.
As the election draws closer, all eyes will be on how the political parties navigate this high-stakes process. The outcome will not only determine the leadership of the MCD for the next year but also set the tone for the city’s governance. While the current dynamics favour the BJP, the presence of multiple vacant seats and the unpredictable nature of political manoeuvres in Delhi ensure that the contest will remain fiercely contested until the very end. With a substantial portion of the city’s leadership and future at stake, the mayoral election promises to be a decisive moment in Delhi’s political calendar.
