The Delhi BJP on Sunday announced the list of its 12 candidates, eight of them women, for the upcoming Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) by-elections due later this month.
The party has given importance to local representation, fielding candidates who are active at the grassroots and connected to local voters. Monday is the last date for filing nominations.
As per the list announced by the Delhi president, Virendra Sachdeva, late evening, Jaipal Singh Daral (Cheeni Pradhan) will contest from Mundka ward (35), Anita Jain from Shalimar Bagh-B (56), Veena Aseja from Ashok Vihar (65), and Suman Kumar Gupta from Chandni Chowk (74).
Sunil Sharma has been fielded from Chandni Mahal (76), Manisha Rajpal Sahrawat from Dwarka (120), Rekha Rani from Dichkaun Kalan (128), and Dr Chandrakanta Shivani from Naraina (139).
Rohini Raj will contest from Dakshinpuri (164), Shubhrjeet Gautam from Sangam Vihar-A (163), Anjum Mandal from Greater Kailash (173), and Sarla Chaudhary from Vinod Nagar (198).
The Shalimar Bagh-B ward was earlier represented by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, while the Dwarka-B ward felt vacant after BJP councillor Kamaljeet Sehrawat was elected to the Lok Sabha from West Delhi. Remaining wards were vacated after the sitting councilors from BJP and AAP on them contested the Delhi Assembly polls held in February, and became MLAs.
BJP Sources also claimed that Chief Minister Rekha Gupta,” a recommendations were kept in mind for selection of candidates for the bypolls. A major part of the selection process was influenced by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.
She herself has been a three-time councillor from Shalimar Bagh. nine of the 12 names were chosen on her recommendations.
Notably, of the 12 seats, five are reserved for women. However, the BJP has given tickets to eight women candidates, signalling a deliberate emphasis on women’s representation and grassroots leadership.
This strategy reflects the BJP’s commitment to empowering women leaders at the municipal level. The central leadership approved her suggestions, underscoring her strong hold and organisational experience in civic affairs,” sources said.
The leadership emphasised that the upcoming by-elections are not only about winning seats but also about rebuilding the BJP’s presence in the national capital after AAP’s dominance in the 2022 MCD polls.
Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva expressed confidence in the party’s comfortable victory as the candidates were selected after a thorough discussion.
“We have ensured that candidates are selected on merit and winnability. On the basis of our work at the Centre, Delhi, and MCD, we will win with a one-sided wave,” he said.
The MCD bypolls, hold much significance for the BJP as nine out of the 12 wards belonged to it.
The AAP which lost power in the Assembly elections held in February this year, also announced its candidates earlier in the day. The party held three of the 12 wards where bypolls are being held.
According to the Commission, nominations will open on November 3, and polling will take place from 7.30 am to 5.30 pm without any break on November 30. The last date for filing nominations is November 10, followed by the scrutiny of nomination papers on November 12. Candidates will be able to withdraw their nominations until November 15.
The AAP won the elections for 250 wards of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi in 2022.
However, it lost power to the BJP over time mainly due to its councilors resigning or switching over to the saffron party.
