BJP, Cong candidates open offices for MCD by-elections

With the by-elections to 12 wards of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) scheduled for November 30, political parties have begun gearing up for an intense campaign. Both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress have launched election-related activities with organisational meetings and office inaugurations taking place across several wards.

BJP candidates have commenced their campaigns with a series of meetings attended by local MPs, MLAs, ward convenors, and party workers. Thursday onwards, all BJP candidates are set to begin door-to-door outreach drives in their respective wards.

Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva, along with MP Praveen Khandelwal, Cabinet Minister Ravindra Indraj Singh and election convenor Pankaj Jain, inaugurated the campaign office of BJP candidate Samun Kumar Gupta for the Chandni Chowk Municipal Ward No 74 on Wednesday. The inauguration ceremony was followed by a formal dedication of the office for election-related activities.

Speaking at the event, Sachdeva said Chandni Chowk had long been a “land of service and commitment,” having produced dedicated municipal leaders such as Shanti Desai, Jambu Prasad Jain and Bishambhar Dutt Sharma. “Since the establishment of the BJP in 1980, this ward has largely supported our candidates, and with the strength of our workers, we will once again ensure victory and comprehensive development,” he said.

MP Khandelwal called the BJP “one family” and expressed confidence in the party.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) also intensified its campaign on Wednesday. DPCC president Devender Yadav inaugurated the election office of Congress candidate Sumita Malik from the Dwarka-B ward.

Addressing workers, Yadav said the large turnout of Congress members and residents at the inauguration reflected growing confidence in the party. “Congress has set a strong example of women’s representation by fielding women candidates in five of the 12 wards going to polls,” he said.

He added that Congress had fielded women candidates in both Dwarka-B and Dichau Kalan wards. “When a woman contests, the whole family stands behind her. Sumita Malik is a dedicated party worker who has always worked closely with the organisation,” he said, urging workers to mobilise voters in her support.

Yadav also claimed that the Congress’ organisational structure remained strong at every level, from block to booth, under the ongoing ‘Sangathan Srijan Abhiyan’. “Congress workers are active across all areas, exposing the failures of both the BJP and the Aam Aadmi Party, under whose governance Delhi has turned into a garbage dump,” he said.