Quick Andhra in Association with News9: Shelly Oberoi, the candidate from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), has been unanimously elected as the mayor of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) for the second consecutive term. The elections for the Delhi Mayor and Deputy Mayor were scheduled for April 26, 2023, but the withdrawal of BJP candidate Shikha Rai's nomination led to the AAP candidates winning the posts unopposed. AAP's Aaley Mohammad Iqbal also got re-elected as the Deputy Mayor after BJP candidate Soni Pal withdrew her nomination.
This victory for the AAP comes after much political wrangling between the BJP and the AAP. The last three attempts to elect the Mayor failed due to the political bickering between the two parties. They had met for the first time on January 6, then on January 24 and last on February 6. However, the latest withdrawal by the BJP candidates paved the way for the AAP to secure the posts of Mayor and Deputy Mayor. The post of Mayor in the National Capital sees five single-year terms on a rotational basis, with the first year reserved for women, the second for the open category, the third for the reserved category, and the remaining two again for the open category. Delhi gets a new Mayor after the end of a financial year.
Shelly Oberoi's election as the Mayor for the second consecutive term is a testament to the work done by the AAP in the MCD. The party has been focusing on improving the sanitation and waste management services in the city, which have been major issues in the past. The AAP has also been working towards making the city greener by planting more trees and reducing air pollution.
Moreover, the AAP's decision to field a woman candidate for the post of Mayor in the first year of the rotation system is also noteworthy. The party's focus on women's representation is reflected in its policies and actions, such as the provision of free bus rides for women and the installation of CCTV cameras in public spaces to ensure women's safety.
Shelly Oberoi's election as the Mayor of Delhi for the second consecutive term is a significant victory for the AAP, and it reflects the party's strong performance in the MCD. With the party's focus on improving essential services and its commitment to women's representation, the AAP's victory bodes well for the future of Delhi.