AAP skips Delhi Mayor and Deputy Mayor polls, challenges BJP to prove governance with full control over Centre, LG office, and MCD.
New Delhi, April 26:
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday boycotted the Mayor and Deputy Mayor elections in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), issuing a sharp challenge to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to now “deliver real results” with its so-called “four-engine government.”
In a public statement, AAP Delhi State President Saurabh Bharadwaj said, “With control over the Centre, the LG office, and now the MCD, BJP has no excuses left. Their four-engine government must now show results.”
Bharadwaj, speaking on platform X, emphasized that despite all efforts and alleged manipulation, the BJP still lacks a clear majority in the 250-member MCD, holding only 117 councillors—below the 120 mark even in a truncated House of 238. He accused the BJP of backdoor tactics to seize power after losing the MCD elections.
“Delimitation was done with irregularities. Even then, AAP won 134 seats while BJP managed only 104. They tried to misuse nominated Aldermen to tilt the mayoral vote, but the Supreme Court ruled against it,” he stated.
He also alleged that BJP continues to attempt to intimidate or bribe AAP councillors despite the legal setbacks.
In the public interest, AAP chose not to contest the mayoral polls this time, saying the BJP must now run Delhi with full responsibility. “With the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, LG, and Centre in their control, there are no obstacles. The BJP must now form the Standing Committee and deliver on ground,” Bharadwaj added.
He concluded with a final jab: “Although the LG’s engine starts and stops erratically, the other three engines are BJP’s. Delhi will now see whether they can actually deliver.”