Delhi Congress Vice-President Ali Mehdi, Party's Two Newly Elected Councillors Joins AAP

Ali Mehdi has also been the chairman of minority department. He is the son of Ali Hasan Mehdi, former Congress MLA from Mustafabad.

Representational Image. (Source: File Photo)

In a fresh jolt to the Congress, Ali Mehdi, Delhi Congress Vice President, along with two newly elected Congress councillors, Sabila Begum from Mustafabad, and Nazia Khatoon from Brijpuri joined Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) ahead of the Mayour selection. 

Ali Mehdi has also been the chairman of minority department. He is the son of Ali Hasan Mehdi, former Congress MLA from Mustafabad.

AAP leader Durgesh Pathak stated during a news conference that people joined his party as a result of what Arvind Kejriwal, the chief minister of Delhi, had accomplished.

"We have invited the BJP and Congress to work for the betterment of Delhi. I am very happy to announce that Delhi Congress vice-president Ali Mehdi and the party's two newly elected councillors Sabila Begum and Nazia Khatoon are joining AAP," Pathak said.

Delhi Congress vice-president Ali Mehdi, party's two newly-elected councillors join Aam Aadmi Party, says AAP leader Durgesh Pathak

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 9, 2022

Nazia Khatoon won from ward number 245, Brij Puri, while Sabila Begum won from ward number 243, Mustafabad. In the most recent MCD polls, the Congress was able to take nine seats.

The MCD polls are not subject to the anti-defection statute.

Mehdi claimed he joined the AAP because he wanted development in his neighbourhood.

"We have decided to join the AAP after seeing the development work done by Kejriwal. We want development in our area. Under the leadership of Kejriwal, the AAP party is working hard to develop the capital," Mehdi said.

Earlier on Wednesday, the AAP ousted the BJP in the national capital's high-stakes civic elections.

MCD Mayor To Be From AAP

Adesh Gupta, the Delhi president, announced on Friday that the MCD mayor will come from AAP, and that the BJP would serve as a "strong opposition."

If the AAP engages in any "corruption," the BJP would also oppose it, he warned.

In light of rumours that the BJP may run for mayor of the freshly elected Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Gupta's announcement is made (MCD).

"We will play the role of a strong opposition in the MCD to save Delhi from the AAP, which has become synonymous with corruption," Gupta said during a press conference while thanking BJP leaders and activists for helping the party win 104 wards in the civic elections.

MCD Polls 2022

The Aam Aadmi Party has claimed the civic body by winning 134 wards, which was ruled by the BJP for the last 15 years. 

BJP won 104 wards, while Congress could manage only 9. Independent won from 3 wards in Delhi.

Delhi recorded a voter turnout of 50.48 per cent in the MCD polls held on December 4. The election was a three-way contest among a spirited AAP, a confident BJP, and a hopeful Congress.

There are 250 wards in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and 1,349 candidates were in the fray in this election.

In the 2017 civic election, the BJP had won 181 of the 270 wards. The AAP had won 48 wards and the Congress 27. The voting percentage that year was around 53.