AAP opts out of Delhi mayoral race; paves way for BJP’s triple-engine govt?
PTC Web Desk: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has officially announced it would not contest the upcoming Delhi mayoral election, scheduled for April 25. With today marking the last day for filing nominations, the decision clears the path for the BJP to secure an uncontested win in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).
According to AAP, the party chose not to field a candidate as it does not currently have the numbers in the MCD, where the BJP holds a clear majority.
With this, the BJP is poised to consolidate power across all levels in the capital — Centre, Delhi Government, and now the MCD — effectively forming what’s being dubbed a “triple-engine government” in Delhi.
Senior AAP leaders, including former Delhi CM minister Atishi and convenor Saurabh Bhardwaj, announced on Monday that the party would not contest the upcoming mayoral election in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).
Addressing a press conference, Atishi said the BJP held a clear majority in the MCD, and therefore, AAP saw no merit in fielding a candidate. “To win the mayoral election under current circumstances would require buying, breaking, or poaching councillors — something we absolutely refuse to do,” she said.
Atishi further stated that the BJP now had power at three levels — the Centre, the Delhi Lieutenant Governor’s office, and the MCD — referring to it as a "triple-engine government", or even "four-engine government" with the inclusion of the LG. “They now have full responsibility to deliver on the promises made to the people of Delhi — whether it be in the areas of safety, electricity, water, education, healthcare, or sanitation,” she added.
She criticised the BJP for making repeated excuses in the name of the MCD and said even the Environment Minister had blamed rising pollution on AAP by falsely alleging that it was deliberately burning garbage. “Now that BJP controls all fronts, they have no excuses left,” she asserted.
Atishi also accused the BJP of orchestrating systematic efforts over the last two and a half years to intimidate, lure, and poach AAP councillors.
When asked about the current number of AAP councillors, Saurabh Bhardwaj refrained from providing a figure, stating, “The BJP tries to break one councillor, then we speak with them and they return, and then BJP targets another. This process has become endless.”
Bhardwaj also took a dig at the BJP, stating, “Let them try once. Let them show what they are capable of.” He said AAP would act as a strong opposition in the MCD, similar to its role in the Delhi Assembly.
- With inputs from agencies
