New Delhi, July 16 (IANS) The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday suspended its three serving Councilors of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), purportedly over anti-party activities and their questionable conduct during the recent zonal ward committee elections.
The three AAP councillors, all women, who were sacked with immediate effect are Nirmala Devi (Sharma), Krishna Devi Raghav, and Mrs Sultana Abad.
The suspension was announced in an official order signed by Delhi AAP chief Saurabh Bharadwaj.
The AAP leadership remains tight-lipped about the reasons for showing them the door, but those closely watching the city’s political developments see the recent cross-voting in the MCD ward committee elections as the likely reason.
According to party insiders, their suspension was necessitated and 'became unavoidable' after they cross-voted for the ruling party in the recent MCD ward committee polls.
The development also comes on the back of a recent blow to AAP as one of its councillors from Civil Lines, Vikas Taank, switched over to the BJP, weakening its strength in the MCD and strengthening the latter’s tally in the civic body.
The suspension of 3 AAP councillors comes close on the heels of elections for the Standing Committee, Chairpersons, and deputy chairpersons of the 12 ward committees, as well as for 6 vacant seats on the 18-member standing committee. The elections were held at the MCD headquarters at Civic Centre on July 15.
The results came as a major setback for the AAP, as the BJP won the Chairperson’s post in 10 of the 12 Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) ward committees and secured 5 of 6 seats in the civic body’s Standing Committee. AAP managed to win 2 ward committee posts and register a victory in 1 standing committee seat.
The 18-member Standing Committee remains the MCD’s highest decision-making body and the final authority for financial approvals and outlays. It approves contracts, policy matters, civic projects, and financial proposals involving more than Rs 5 crores.
BJP holds sway in the Standing Committee as the panel comprises 12 BJP members and 6 AAP members.