The election for the Mayor of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is scheduled to take place in New Delhi today. The MCD House meeting will begin at 2 pm, during which the election of three members of the Standing Committee will also be conducted.
The mayoral election is being held amid expectations that Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Pravesh Wahi will secure victory. This assessment is based on the boycott of the election by Aam Aadmi Party and the numerical majority held by the BJP in the MCD.
The proceedings of the House will include elections for both the Mayor and three Standing Committee members. Given the current composition of the House, the contest against Pravesh Wahi is limited. The Indian National Congress has fielded Mohammad Zarif as its candidate; however, the party holds only nine votes, which is insufficient for victory. There is also a possibility that if the Congress candidate withdraws, Pravesh Wahi may be elected unopposed.
The majority mark in the MCD stands at 137, while the BJP has a total of 142 votes. This includes councillors, Members of Parliament, Rajya Sabha members, and nominated legislators. In comparison, the AAP has 105 votes, but its boycott has resulted in a largely one-sided contest.
Pravesh Wahi has previously served three terms as a councillor representing the Rohini ward. His political career began at the grassroots level, and he has held various organisational roles. He is also considered to have the support of Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.
He first won election in 2007 and was subsequently re-elected in 2012 and 2022. He has also held positions including membership in the MCD’s construction committee and zonal chairmanship. During 2016–17, he served as chairman of the Standing Committee.
The election process will be presided over by incumbent Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh. This marks the first instance where the sitting mayor will act as the presiding officer for the election. In previous years, different अधिकारियों were assigned this responsibility. Alongside the mayoral election, voting will also take place for the post of Deputy Mayor. The BJP has nominated Monika Pant for the position, while the Congress has fielded Rajesh Kumar Gupta.
