Delhi BJP Reclaims MCD As Raja Iqbal Singh Elected Mayor After AAP’s Boycott

The BJP regained control of the MCD after a two-year gap, with Raja Iqbal Singh elected as Mayor. The AAP boycotted the polls, and the Congress's weakened presence aided the BJP's victory.

File Photo of Raja Iqbal Singh

Source : X@MCD_Delhi

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) regained control of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) after a two-year gap, as its candidate Raja Iqbal Singh was elected Mayor on Friday, securing 133 votes. Congress candidate Mandeep Singh, who also contested the mayoral election, managed to secure only eight votes, news agency IANS reported.

BJP councillors celebrated, showing victory signs after Raja Iqbal Singh was elected as Delhi's new mayor. 

#WATCH | BJP councillors celebrate after the party's Raja Iqbal Singh is elected as Delhi's new Mayor pic.twitter.com/dHh498GTQk

— ANI (@ANI) April 25, 2025

Following the win, Raja Iqbal Singh remarked, "I would like to thank Prime Minister Modi, BJP national president JP Nadda, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva, and other party leaders. I assure you that I will work in collaboration with the ruling party, the opposition, and the Congress. Decisions will be made for the development of Delhi without any discrimination."

VIDEO | Delhi: After winning MCD mayoral polls, BJP leader Raja Iqbal Singh says, "I would like to thank Prime Minister Modi, BJP national president JP Nadda, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva, and other party leaders. I assure you that I will work… pic.twitter.com/1QNoFepSl7

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 25, 2025

"The main goal will be to improve the sanitation system of Delhi, remove the mountains of garbage, solve the problem of waterlogging, and provide all the basic and essential facilities to the people of Delhi. We will all work together with full dedication and hard work," he remarked, as quoted by news agency ANI.

On the eve of the election, the senior BJP leader told news agency PTI, “Delhiites have entrusted the BJP with the responsibility of fixing the city’s problems. AAP has already accepted its defeat. We will eliminate corruption and complete all the pending work that was stalled over the past two years.” He added that elections for the Standing Committees would be conducted promptly now that the mayoral post has been filled.

The BJP’s victory in the mayoral and deputy mayoral elections was aided by the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) decision to boycott the polls and the Congress’s weakened presence in the civic body. With the latest win, the BJP has further consolidated its hold over Delhi through the Centre, the nominated MLAs in the Assembly, and now the MCD.

BJP Reduced MCD Election To 'Farce': AAP's Former Mayor Shelly Oberoi

AAP councillor and former Mayor Shelly Oberoi and Leader of the House Mukesh Goyal held a press conference, reiterating the party’s decision to stay away from the poll process. “The MCD election is scheduled for tomorrow, and we will completely boycott it,” Oberoi stated. She accused the BJP of reducing the civic polls to a “farce” using its “so-called triple engine power.”

AAP leaders further alleged that under the leadership of Arvind Kejriwal, several people-centric decisions were implemented, but the BJP was solely focused on capturing power.

The current strength of the MCD stands at 238, with 12 seats vacant following some councillors’ election to the Delhi Assembly and one to the Lok Sabha. Out of the original 250 seats, the BJP now holds 117 councillors—up from 104 in 2022—while AAP’s strength has declined to 113 from 134. Congress holds eight seats.

The electoral college for the mayoral poll comprises 238 councillors, 10 Members of Parliament (seven from the Lok Sabha and three from the Rajya Sabha), and 14 MLAs. Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta has nominated 11 BJP MLAs and three AAP MLAs as electors.

The previous mayoral election, held on 14 November 2024, had witnessed AAP’s Mahesh Kumar Khinchi winning by a narrow margin of three votes. However, political shifts and defections have since altered the power equation within the MCD.

For the Deputy Mayor post, the BJP nominated Jai Bhagwan Yadav from the Begumpur ward. Congress fielded Ariba Khan from Abul Fazal Enclave (ward 188) for Deputy Mayor, while Mandeep Singh from Nangloi (ward 47) contested for Mayor.

The election took place at 2 pm during the Ordinary April Meeting of the civic body. As per MCD guidelines, all councillors and members were required to carry identity cards for entry into the meeting hall. Voters were prohibited from bringing mobile phones or other electronic devices into the polling booth. Candidates were also instructed not to bring supporters or their vehicles into the Civic Centre premises.

Delhi MCD Agenda: From Renaming Lala Lajpat Rai Marg To Infrastructure Upgrades

The meeting agenda included several civic proposals, notably the renaming of a road in South Delhi. A proposal is to be tabled to rename Lala Lajpat Rai Marg (near Kailash Colony Metro Station) to Bodofa Upendra Nath Brahma Marg, in honour of the Bodo leader known for his contributions to tribal rights and education.

Other matters on the agenda included a review of the 2025 MCD Employees Health Scheme, plans to demolish unsafe structures including a building within the MC Primary School in Nehru Vihar, and the proposed sector-wise empanelment of chemists for the distribution of branded medicines to pensioners via e-tendering.

Labour issues are also to be addressed, particularly the regularisation of daily wagers at the Hardayal Municipal Public Library, in line with Delhi High Court directions, which had called for their reinstatement and partial compensation in a long-pending case from 2024.

The meeting will also discuss infrastructure upgrades, including improvements to drains and lanes across over 20 locations in North and South Delhi.