Vibha SharmaNew Delhi: BJP Wednesday wrested control of two MCD zonal ward committees that were considered AAP strongholds in MCD.Of the 12 zonal ward committees that went to the polls, BJP now controls 10 and AAP 2.For AAP, the setback will bite more as some of its councillors allegedly cross-voted in the City Sadar Paharganj and West zones. Minutes before polling for City Sadar Paharganj, its outgoing chairperson and AAP councillor Vikas Tank joined BJP in the presence of Delhi BJP president Harsh Malhotra. AAP lost the chairperson posts in both the zones, despite having numerical majority.BJP got an additional boost when, according to sources, several Congress councillors also voted in its favour. In the south zone, where BJP and AAP had 10 councillors each, two Congress councillors allegedly voted for BJP, tipping the contest in its favour. Congress had usually abstained from elections in the past. No comment came from the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee on this matter.AAP now has chairpersons in only two — Rohini and Karol Bagh — down from four last year. BJP has chairpersons in 10 zones. These are Keshavpuram, Narela, Civil Lines, Central, West, South, Najafgarh, City Sadar Paharganj, Shahdara South and Shahdara North.Reacting to Tank’s switch to BJP, AAP councillor and leader of opposition in MCD, Ankush Narang said his defection would make no difference. “ If the BJP is engaging in horse-trading, they should declare it upfront. Otherwise, it appears they are intimidating people.”The party also reacted strongly to Congress councillors allegedly voting for the BJP in the MCD ward committee elections. An AAP functionary remarked that, once again, the Congress party’s hand was seen aligning with the BJP in Delhi, adding that the Congress had previously contested the Assembly elections in alliance with the BJP—helping them win—and was now facilitating a BJP victory in the MCD.For the first time in 24 years, a BJP member has become chairperson of the City Sadar Paharganj zone. Cross-voting by two councillors then enabled BJP candidate Usha Sharma’s win as chairperson. Till Tuesday, AAP had seven councillors, BJP four, and the Forward Bloc one in the zone. However, the BJP candidate secured seven votes, while five went to AAP.AAP’s deputy chairperson candidate, Shamim Bano, was elected unopposed.“The ward committee elections marked a historic day not only for the Delhi BJP but also for the people of Delhi, especially the residents of Old Delhi,” Malhotra said.In the west zone, AAP had 13 councillors against the BJP’s 12. But BJP’s Harish Oberoi secured 14 votes, while AAP got 11. AAP retained the deputy chairperson’s post.BJP narrowly missed victory in Rohini by a single vote. AAP has 11, the BJP 10, and Congress two councillors here. AAP’s chairperson candidate Pushpa secured 12 votes, while BJP got 11. In the standing committee elections, AAP contested three of the six vacant seats but got only one. Five seats went to BJP. AAP’s Rajan Arora was elected unopposed from Karol Bagh.The committee now has 12 BJP members and six AAP members.
