New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Leader Mahesh Kumar Khichi was elected as the new Mayor of Delhi on Thursday. He has succeeded Shelly Oberoi who had assumed the office in 2023. Khichi won the Mayor’s election against Kishanlal from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) by 3 votes. This is the third consecutive time, Arvind Kejriwal’s AAP has sustained power at Municipal Corporation of Delhi since 2022, when it ended the 15-year-long rule of BJP.
The reason why Khichi will serve only for five months as the Mayor is that the MCD elections are delayed by seven months. This means that the AAP leader will be able to hold the office for the remainder of the term. After being elected as the Mayor, Khichi shared with the media that he was grateful for the Members of Parliament (MPs), Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) and everyone to make him win the neck-to-neck competition for the mayor's post.
"I thank the MPs, MLAs, councillors, everyone for making me win in this election," says AAP's Mahesh Kumar Khichi after winning Delhi mayoral polls.
VIDEO | "I thank the MPs, MLAs, councillors, everyone for making me win in this election," says AAP's Mahesh Kumar Khichi after winning Delhi mayoral polls. pic.twitter.com/TLRbOrTKRy
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 14, 2024
Who is Mahesh Kumar Khichi?
A councilor from Dev Nagar Ward No. 84, Kichi managed to bring Aam Aadmi Party in power again. It should be noted that a total of 265 votes were casted for the election of the post of Mayor. Of which, 2 votes were declared invalid. Mr. Mahesh Kumar got 133 votes while Kishan Lal got 130 votes. Kishan Lal, the BJP candidate, is a councillor of Shakurpur, ward no.- 62. This year, the Mayor's seat was reserved for Dalit candidates.
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Meanwhile, Ravindra Bhardwaj of AAP was elected unopposed as the Deputy Mayor. Bhardwaj is a councilor from Aman Vihar, Ward No. 41. This comes after Neeta Bisht, his rival, withdrew her nomination. Bisht is a councilor from Sadatpur, Ward No. 247.
Both Mayor and Dy Mayor will serve for the remaining tenure of 5 months as the elections were getting postponed since April this year.