BJP Wins MCD Standing Committee Seat, AAP Boycotts, Congress Abstains from Voting

BJP's Sundar Singh Tanwar was elected to the 18th seat of the Delhi Municipal Corporation's Standing Committee on Friday, following a vote that included only BJP councillors. Tanwar secured 115 votes, which corresponds to the total number of BJP councillors in the House. His victory gives the BJP control over the Standing Committee, with the party now holding 10 of the 18 seats and the ability to choose the Chair. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which holds 125 councillors, boycotted the election. The Congress, having 9 councillors, also abstained from voting.

MCD Commissioner Ashwani Kumar issued an order on Thursday to hold the election for the Standing Committee member on September 27 at 1 pm. However, the initial election for the single vacancy was scheduled for September 26 at 2 pm but was not conducted, leading Mayor Shelly Oberoi to adjourn the meeting until October 5.

Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi condemned the election as “unconstitutional” and announced that AAP councillors would not participate. AAP leader Manish Sisodia labeled the proceedings "illegal" and declared, "There is nothing today."

Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal hit out at the BJP after Tanwar’s win, highlighting the election's alleged irregularities. He noted that the rules stipulate only the mayor can convene meetings of the MCD House, but claimed the Lieutenant Governor had altered this protocol, delegating the task to an additional commissioner. “Is this election?” Kejriwal asked, accusing the BJP of "hooliganism." “A notice has to be sent to every councillor 72 hours before the meeting, but it was not followed," added Kejriwal.

This election was necessitated by the vacancy left by BJP councillor Kamaljeet Sehrawat, who was elected to the Lok Sabha.

BJP's Sunder Singh expressed gratitude for his election victory and said, “AAP might not have had trust in their own councillors, they thought it was better to run away from the election.” He added, “This is the win of democracy...AAP is good at lying.”

MCD House Leader of Opposition Raja Iqbal Singh echoed this sentiment, asserting, “They were given opportunities multiple times...the election was conducted free and fair.” He remarked that AAP’s decision to boycott was an admission of impending defeat.​