BJP’s strength in MCD rises to 139 as 16 IVP councillors join party; setback for AAP

New Delhi, Jul 10 (PTI) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday bolstered its position in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) after all 16 councillors of the Indraprastha Vikas Party (IVP), a breakaway faction of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), merged with the saffron party. The councillors joined the BJP in the presence of Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Delhi BJP president Harsh Malhotra at the party headquarters. With the merger, the BJP’s strength in the 250-member MCD has gone up to 139, while the AAP’s tally now stands at 123. The BJP had won 104 seats in the 2022 civic polls, but it has steadily increased its numbers through defections. Welcoming the IVP councillors, Gupta said they had taken the decision keeping Delhi’s development in mind. “It is a good signal that will speed up development in their wards,” she told a press conference. “Development of the city is the top priority of the BJP government. The joining of the IVP councillors will further strengthen the BJP in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and boost civic work in their municipal wards,” she said. Malhotra said the IVP was formed around one-and-a-half years ago by councillors led by Mukesh Goel and Hemchand Goel after they witnessed a “lack of development” under the AAP-led civic administration. He said all 16 IVP councillors formally joined the BJP and took its membership. Speaking to PTI, IVP president Mukesh Goel said the decision to join the BJP was taken after deliberations amongst the councillors this week. “We have watched BJP’s work for one and a half years, and we collectively think that joining the ruling party will help speed up the developmental work in our respective wards,” Goel told PTI. Goel added that there have been no discussions on quid pro quo arrangements for positions in the corporation with the ruling party. “Whatever role is assigned to us in the corporation…no matter how big or small, we will perform our duties wholeheartedly,” he said. The Indraprastha Vikas Party was formed in May 2025 after 16 AAP councillors broke away from the party following differences with the AAP leadership in the MCD. The latest development comes ahead of the MCD elections due next year and on the last day for filing nominations for the election of chairpersons and deputy chairpersons of the corporation’s 12 ward committees. Party sources said senior IVP leader Mukesh Goel could be appointed chairman of an ad hoc or special committee of the MCD, while Hemchand Goel may be nominated as the BJP’s member to the Standing Committee from the Central Zone. However, there was no official announcement on the appointments. PTI VBH VIT KSI KSI