New Delhi [India]: Union Minister Harsh Malhotra on Monday claimed that internal dissent and governance failures within the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have led the party to opt out of the upcoming Delhi mayoral elections, scheduled for April 25.
Speaking to media, Malhotra said that disillusioned AAP councillors are shifting towards the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
“More than a dozen AAP councillors joined BJP during the Delhi Assembly elections. Their leadership has failed, and their own councillors no longer support them,” he alleged.
BJP Confident of Victory
Backing Malhotra’s statements, BJP MP Kamaljeet Sehrawat mocked AAP for backing out of the mayoral race.
“If Saurabh Bharadwaj is so confident, he should have fielded a candidate. The numbers are clearly in BJP’s favour,” she said, adding that 10 AAP MLAs have reportedly joined the BJP, strengthening their position.
The BJP has announced Sardar Raja Iqbal Singh as its official mayoral candidate.
AAP Opts Out, Blames BJP
Earlier in the day, AAP Delhi convenor Saurabh Bharadwaj stated that the party would not field a candidate in this round of Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) elections.
“Let the BJP rule Delhi without any excuses,” Bharadwaj said, taking a jibe at the rival party.
Background & Context:
- The MCD was reunified in May 2022, merging East, North, and South corporations into one.
- Mahesh Kumar Khinchi (AAP) narrowly won the November 2024 mayoral election by just three votes.
- The political atmosphere in Delhi remains tense amid allegations of defections and governance failures.
What’s Next:
With nominations currently open and the vote slated for April 25, the BJP appears poised to take control of the mayoral seat, barring any last-minute political surprises.