BJP’s candidate Yogendra Chandolia, a councillor from Dev Nagar, and Ravindra Gupta of Karol Bagh are set to become Mayor and Deputy Mayor of North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NMC) unopposed respectively. On the last date of filing of nomination papers, no candidate of other parties submitted their documents on Monday. Two-time councillor Chandolia is a known Dalit face of the BJP in Delhi. The election for the post was supposed to be held on April 28.
Having denied lok Sabha ticket from the North-West Delhi parliamentary constituency, Chandolia was the suitable and obvious choice for the party. The Pioneer on April 15 reported about his possible nomination for the coveted post of North Delhi.
The third year of the Corporation is reserved for the Scheduled Caste and move is being seen as an attempt to placate Chandolia who was also a contender in the Delhi Assembly elections in December last year.
Other two BJP corporators Rekha Gupta and Dr Sanjeev Nayyar, including Congress’ Prithvi Singh Rathore of Congress also filed their nominations for the posts of members of the Standing Committee to be nominated from the Corporation on Monday. Since no other candidate has submitted nomination papers, they are also all set to be elected unopposed.
In the House of 104 members of North Delhi Municipal Corporation, the BJP presently has absolute majority with 58 councillors. One councillor from Wazirpur ward Mahender Nagpal has got elected as MlA from Wazirpur Assembly seat. Congress has 29 while there are seven BSP corporators and nine Independent councillors.
In South Delhi, since BJP has insufficient numbers in the House of 104 members, it will have to seek support from BSP and others. BJP has nominated Khushi Ram for the post of Mayor and left Deputy Mayor’s post for BSP. Bir Singh has been named by BSP for the post. Khushi Ram is councillor from Ambedkar Nagar ward and recently contested Assembly elections from Ambedkar Nagar seat unsuccessfully. However, the Congress has also decided to contest both - Mayoral and Deputy Mayoral posts and Dharmveer Singh and Praveen Rana filed their nominations on Monday for the top posts. NCP has also announced to contest for the coveted posts.
Earlier, BJP has 44 members in the south Delhi municipality but three of its members have won Assembly elections and two has left the party. Now, it has total 39 corporators. Congress is second largest party the civic body with 29 seats. BSP which has alliance with BJP possessed five seats. In South Delhi Corporation, others play important role as their strength is 26. The election for the top positions will take place on April 29.
BJP, Cong members file nominations for E Delhi Mayoral post
In East Delhi Corporation, Meenakshi (from Shiv Vihar ward) and Jai Gopal (elected from Anarkali Ward) of BJP filed their nominations for Mayor and Deputy Mayorship of East Delhi on Monday. Two Congress members Tulshi and Aas Mohd have also filed their nominations for these posts respectively. The elections to the posts of Mayor, Deputy Mayor and three vacancies of members of Standing Committee will be held in the meeting of the East Delhi Municipal Corporation to be held at Udyog Sadan, Patparganj on April 29. In House of 64 members of East Delhi Corporation, BJP has comfortable majority with 35 seats while the Congress has 19. BSP and others have total 10 councillors.