BJP names candidates for posts of mayor, deputy mayors in Delhi

The BJP-led municipal corporations in the Capital nominated candidates to the posts of mayors and deputy mayors including an SC category nomination for the post of deputy mayor on Wednesday.

The party also nominated three members each to the Standing Committee of the three civic bodies.

DNA had reported on Tuesday that the party after the recent apex court verdict on SC/ST Act may nominate a councillor for one of the key posts from the reserved category.

While no other nominations have been filed for the posts of mayor and deputy mayor, the Congress and the Aam Admi Party (AAP) have filed nominations to the posts of members to the Standing Committee. Abhishek Dutt of the Congress and Narender Kumar of the AAP filed their papers for posts of members of the committee.

Elections to all these posts will take place in the South Corporation on April 26, while North and East civic bodies will be on April 27.

While the BJP has a clear majority in all the three corporations --- North, South and East --- the mayoral candidates are unopposed and hence elections scheduled in the next week would just be a formality.

The mayoral-elects include Adesh Kumar Gupta, councillor from West Patel Nagar in North Corporation, Narender Chawla from Janakpuri in South Corporation and Bipin Bihari Singh of East MCD.

While Singh of East MCD has been holding the post of deputy mayor in the corporation, Gupta and Chawla are the new faces representing different communities.

"Its a critical year as the Lok Sabha polls are due next year. We have tried to bring in members of all communities in different areas to be in touch with people including SC/ST, jats and porrvanchalis, among others. The party has been supporting their cause for long," said Rajesh Bhatia, state general secretary, BJP.

Rajesh Lawadia, councillor from Karol Bagh, is the SC candidate nominated for the post of deputy mayor of North Corporation. Lawadia had been holding the post of zone chairman from the ward.

"I am thankful to party high command for giving me this opportunity. I will not indulge in politics and would rather work for the development of the entire region and not just my ward," said Chawla, who had been a long-time worker with the BJP's youth wing and state bodies.

Resolving issues of parking and improving sanitation will be the major focus, he said.

"Parking has been a major issue also resulting in congestion and pollution. I will work on provding more parking spaces. I have identified sites in my ward and will do that for the rest of the region. Also, sanitation facilities need more attention," said Chawla, 58.

Gupta, mayoral-elect from North MCD too said, his focus will be on Prime Minister Modi's vision of Swachh Bharat.

While the party has not repeated any of the leaders in North, the South and East Corporations have seen a rotation of posts.

The outgoing mayor of South civic body Kamaljeet Sehrawat has been nominated for the post of Leader of the House (LOH) while Shikha Rai formerly the LOH has been nominated for the post of chairman of Standing Committee.

KNOW THE CANDIDATES

South -- Narender Chawla

58-year-old Chawla is the sitting councillor from the Janakpuri ward. He has been a long-time BJP worker. He started with the party's youth wing and was later elevated to various posts at the state level. Chawla has also been with the student's wing of the RSS. His major focus will be on parking and sanitation issues.

North -- Adesh Kumar Gupta

49-year-old Gupta is the councillor from West Patel Nagar. He has long been associated with the BJP's state activities. Gupta said his focus will be on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of Swachh Bharat Mission. Gupta said he will work for overall development of the region including doing away with encroachment and providing better sanitation facilities.

East -- Bipin Bihari Singh

Singh, 52, had been holding the post of the deputy mayor in the corporation. He is the councillor from the Patparganj ward. Singh said his focus will be on improving waste management as East Delhi has been grappling with the issue of lack of space for setting up sanitary landfill sites (SLFs).