The Delhi Municipal Corporation bypolls were held across 12 wards on Sunday — the first political clash since BJP swept the Assembly elections in February. The BJP is hoping for a clean sweep in order to solidify its control over the standing committee and wards with a clear majority. Meanwhile the AAP — reduced to 99 seats after multiple defections — hopes for a return to its 2022 high of 134 wards.
Polls had became necessary for 11 seats after their councillors were elected to the Delhi Assembly earlier this year. The Dwarka B seat has remained vacant since former councillor Kamaljeet Sehrawat was elected to Parliament from West Delhi in 2024.
The BJP currently holds 115 seats within the 250 member Delhi Municipal Corporation. The number falls just shy of the 126 needed for clear control over the MCD — which would allow the party to pass budgets, contracts and policies without relying on the support of allies and other independents.
Poor voter turnout
The polls saw a rather muted voter turnout of 38.51% till 5.30 pm on Sunday — a sharp drop from the 2022 MCD elections which saw 50.47% of people exercising their franchise. The the State Election Commission said polling had remained completely peaceful, with no untoward incident or commotion reported at any booth.
AAP, BJP hurl accusations
The recently concluded elections have also sparked a war of words between the BJP and AAP — painting a rather contradictory picture. The Arvind Kejriwal-led party has accused its rival of “foul play” and claimed that a former police official had campaigned for the BJP. Meanwhile the BJP insisted that AAP had attempted “bogus voting” on November 30.
“Today, there are by-elections in 12 MCD wards in Delhi, but the BJP is resorting to unfair practices even in such a small election. The SHO of the police is campaigning for the BJP candidate in plain clothes. The Election Commission has not taken any action so far,” AAP Delhi unit chief Saurabh Bharadwaj wrote on X.
“We do not recall any organised attempt at fake voting in recent years. AAP tried bogus voting in Mundka and intended similar attempts in Sangam Vihar, Dakshinpuri, Naraina, Greater Kailash and Chandni Chowk, but they failed due to the vigilance of the police and BJP workers,” countered Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva.
