BJP mulls fielding ex-MLAs for civic body by-polls

The Delhi unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is planning to field former MLAs for the upcoming municipal corporation by-polls to elect 13 councillors.

“Several former MLAs of the party have been asking the party leaders to give tickets to their supporters, promising victory. However, the party leaders are planning to field the ex-MLAs themselves to strengthen the chances of victory,” a senior party leader said.

The Aam Admi Party (AAP) has already announced the names of its candidates for the post of 13 councillors in the municipal corporations. The notification for the by-polls is yet to be issued.

The winners of the by-polls will hold office for 9-10 months as elections to the three municipal corporations are due next year. The BJP is attaching significance to the by-polls as its results will not only reflect on its own standing, following the devastating debacle in 2015 Assembly polls but also prove to be a litmus test before the full-fledged MCD polls in 2017.