After much delay, the formation of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) Standing Committee finally saw conclusion on Tuesday after the Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s Satya Sharma won the elections for the committee’s last vacancy. Sharma has been the councillor from Gautam Puri ward after securing 130 of 227 votes cast and defeating Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) candidate Hema from Jaipur. Hema received 95 votes while votes were declared invalid.

Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh congratulated Satya Sharma on her victory and stated that her “extensive political experience will greatly benefit the corporation.” Alongside, the Mayor also commended AAP’s Hema for putting up a strong fight.

All the 18 seats of the Standing Committee of Delhi’s MCD are now filled, and the Corporation is set to hold elections for its Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson on June 12. The nomination process for these has begun and will conclude on June 6.

Standing Committee Role

Formation of a Standing Committee as the sole decision-making body of the MCD in vetting proposals exceeding ₹5,00,00,000 is crucial to the city. MCD is also a site of constant scuffle between the BJP and the AAP in Delhi. Civic projects have been stalled due to the absence of this committee in the past, which makes the Corporation’s decision-making a very important and necessary one. The BJP, which won the MCD elections in April, has pledged to expedite the completion of the committee and restart all pending work for development.

BJP now holds a majority in the MCD with 11 out of 18 seats in the Standing Committee. The upcoming leadership elections are likely to consolidate its control further over MCD’s most powerful panel.