Nine councillors of MCD Standing Committee retire

Nine councillors of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi’s (MCD) Standing Committee retired on Tuesday following a draw of lots conducted during a meeting chaired by Standing Committee Chairperson Satya Sharma.

The retirements come as part of the statutory process under the Delhi Municipal Corporation (DMC) Act, which mandates periodic rotation of members. The Standing Committee comprises 18 councillors, of whom half retire at the end of their tenure through a draw of lots.

The process was carried out during an official meeting, where slips of paper on which councillors’ names are written were drawn to determine the members completing their tenure. Chairperson Satya Sharma said the retiring members had played an important role in the functioning of the corporation. “They contributed significantly during their tenure. We appreciate their work and wish them the best for the future,” she said.

Out of the 12 members elected from ward committees, six councillors were selected for retirement through the draw. These include Ankush Narang from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and five Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) councillors: Shikha Bhardwaj, Inderjeet Sehrawat, Neema Bhagat, Rajpal Singh, and Anju Devi. In addition, three members elected from the House also retired. These include AAP councillors Mohammad Aamil Malik and Mohini Jeenwal and BJP councillor Pankaj Luthra.

Officials said the process was conducted in accordance with established rules to ensure fairness and transparency. The draw of lots system is used to maintain rotational continuity within the Standing Committee.

The Standing Committee is one of the key decision-making bodies of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. It is responsible for financial approvals, policy decisions, and oversight of major civic works.

With the retirement of nine members, the process to induct new councillors into the committee is expected to begin soon.

Chairperson Sharma said the corporation will continue to function smoothly despite the changes. She expressed confidence that the induction of new members would strengthen the committee’s work. “Under the leadership of the BJP government, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi will continue to function effectively. The committee will remain committed to public welfare and serving citizens,” she said.

Officials noted that such periodic changes are essential to ensure broader participation of elected representatives in key civic bodies. The retiring members represented both the ruling BJP and the opposition AAP, reflecting the political composition of the civic body.