After facing a crushing defeat in Delhi Assembly elections, the BJP is likely to face a tough battle to retain the Mayor’s post in South Delhi Municipal elections. BJP had won the Mayoral post by one vote in 2013 but is now struggling hard to win this year’s elections. Of the total 97 House members, at present there are 42 councillors of the BJP. With five MlAs and MPs also having the right to vote, the strength goes up to 106. The party needs at least 53 votes to secure a majority.
The BJP is seeking support from the BSP and other Independent councillors in a bid to enjoy majority in the House in the upcoming elections. The BJP fears that the votes of five AAP MlAs with voting right will further wreck its chances to win this time.
The party also fears cross-voting by the BSP even though the BSP had supported BJP in the mayoral polls in the past three years.
The election is scheduled for April 24. April 16 is the last date for filing of nomination. The BJP contains 46 votes in the House along with support from four MPs of BJP. The party shall fall short of two votes to win the mayoral post even if five BSP votes are added to its tally. Interestingly in the 2014 mayoral polls, the BJP managed to win the election by just one vote to the Congress.
BJP’s Khushi Ram was elected as the Mayor of the South Delhi Corporation by defeating Congress candidate Dharmveer Singh by just one vote. However, Congress councillor Praveen Rana won the election for Deputy Mayor by defeating BSP’s Bir Singh, who was supported by the BJP.
“We will win the elections easily. The BJP has planned a foolproof strategy for the voting on April 24,” said Subhash Arya, senior BJP councillor who is also a potential candidate for the post.
The strength of the House reduced to 97 after seven SDMC councillors were elected to the Delhi Assembly after the polls in 2013 and 2014. Two BJP councillors — Rajesh Gehlot and Anil Sharma — resigned from the corporation after the 2013 Assembly polls. Five Independent councillors won the 2014 polls while representing the AAP.
Since the Mayor’s post this year is open for all categories, Arya, along with Delhi BJP vice president Ashish Sood and BJP councillor Satender Prakash are considered main contenders for the post. Congress leader and former Mayor Farhad Suri could also contest the election, sources said.