The box is open for Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Raja Iqbal Singh to be selected as the following Mayor of Delhi on Friday, as Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has made up our minds to boycott the mayoral election en masse. The ballot, which can happen on April 25, comes after there used to be a large trade within the energy play within the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) following a spate of AAP to BJP jumps.
BJP In Pole Position, AAP Keeps Away
The BJP has 135 councillors backing it within the 274-strong electoral school, whilst the AAP’s 119 individuals have saved away and 12 seats are empty. The Congress, with best 8 councillors, post its candidate Mandeep Singh from Nangloi, however his likelihood is that skinny except AAP does a reconsider.
As in line with a senior MCD authentic, the applicants can withdraw nominations previous to vote casting. “If Congress withdraws, BJP will win unopposed. Even otherwise, Raja Iqbal Singh is all but assured of victory,” the authentic said.
Who Is Raja Iqbal Singh?
Raja Iqbal Singh (54) is a two-time councillor from Mukherjee Nagar ward and has been the Leader of Opposition within the MCD for greater than two years. He used to be additionally the Mayor of North MCD ahead of the civic frame used to be unified. Singh belongs to a political circle of relatives with origins within the Shiromani Akali Dal.
AAP Blames BJP, Declares Boycott
Addressing a press convention on Thursday, outgoing mayor Shelly Oberoi reaffirmed AAP’s resolution to boycott the elections to the mayoral and deputy mayoral posts, attributing it to unjust stipulations and “undemocratic limitations” imposed on councillors.
“With BJP now holding power at the municipal, state, and central levels, we expect them to deliver on their promises without excuses. AAP will now play the role of a constructive opposition,” Oberoi mentioned.
‘Triple-Engine Government’ Returns to Delhi
The BJP’s monopoly in any respect 3 tiers of presidency—municipal, state, and middle—demonstrates a comeback to the “triple-engine” fashion of governance, the final time it existed between 2004 and 2007 underneath the Congress regime. The word represents harmonized keep watch over that, in theory, can push construction at a speedy tempo, even supposing previous stints had been additionally tainted with corruption scandals.
BJP Hits Out: ‘AAP is Falling Apart’
Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor claimed AAP’s boycott alerts inside chaos. “Their councillors are disillusioned and breaking away. This boycott is an attempt to avoid cross-voting embarrassments and internal dissent,” Kapoor mentioned.
He added, “With the BJP set to take over the MCD, Delhi’s development will finally gain momentum under the triple-engine leadership.”
AAP’s Decline In MCD: From Majority To Minority
AAP’s fortunes within the MCD have grew to become the other way up since its 134-seat win in 2022 over BJP’s 104. Shelly Oberoi defeated BJP’s Rekha Gupta by way of 34 votes in February 2023. But come November 2024, the adaptation narrowed down to a few votes, indicating larger proof of cross-voting and switchovers.
In the wake of BJP’s victory within the 2025 Delhi Assembly polls, a number of AAP councillors jumped send, making sure BJP a certain majority within the MCD. The anti-defection regulation governing state assemblies does not prolong to municipal companies, permitting the BJP to ascend the civic frame.
What’s Next?
If the Congress withdraws its candidate or the vote proceeds as anticipated, Raja Iqbal Singh is all however showed to be Delhi’s subsequent mayor. With a cast BJP majority, consideration now turns to how the brand new management plans to satisfy its construction guarantees and repair administrative momentum in Delhi’s civic governance.