All 16 Delhi councillors of AAP breakaway group merge with BJP ahead of civic polls
All 16 councillors of the Indraprastha Vikas Party joined the BJP in the Delhi civic body. The move boosts the BJP's majority before ward committee polls and next year's civic election.
The BJP has strengthened its position in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi after all 16 councillors of the Indraprastha Vikas Party, a breakaway group of the AAP, merged with the party. The councillors joined the BJP at the party headquarters in the presence of Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Delhi BJP president Harsh Malhotra.
With the merger, the BJP's strength in the 250-member MCD has risen to 139, while the AAP's tally has fallen to 123. The BJP had won 104 seats in the 2022 civic polls, but has steadily increased its numbers through defections.
Welcoming the IVP councillors, Gupta said they had taken the decision with Delhi's development in mind. "It is a good signal that will speed up development in their wards," she told a press conference.
She added, "Development of the city is the top priority of the BJP government. The joining of the IVP councillors will further strengthen the BJP in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and boost civic work in their municipal wards."
Malhotra said the IVP was formed around one-and-a-half years ago by councillors led by Mukesh Goel and Hemchand Goel after they witnessed a "lack of development" under the AAP-led civic administration. He said all 16 IVP councillors formally joined the BJP and took its membership.
Speaking to news agency PTI, IVP president Mukesh Goel said the decision to join the BJP was taken after discussions among the councillors earlier this week.
"We have watched BJP's work for one and a half years, and we collectively think that joining the ruling party will help speed up the developmental work in our respective wards," Goel told PTI.
He said there had been no discussions on any quid pro quo arrangement for positions in the corporation with the ruling party. "Whatever role is assigned to us in the corporationno matter how big or small, we will perform our duties wholeheartedly," he said.
The Indraprastha Vikas Party was formed in May 2025 after 16 AAP councillors broke away from the party following differences with the AAP leadership in the MCD. The development comes ahead of the MCD elections due next year and on the last day for filing nominations for the election of chairpersons and deputy chairpersons of the corporation's 12 ward committees.
Party sources said senior IVP leader Mukesh Goel could be appointed chairman of an ad hoc or special committee of the MCD, while Hemchand Goel may be nominated as the BJP's member to the Standing Committee from the Central Zone, though there was no official announcement on the appointments.
Overall, the merger has lifted the BJP's numbers in the MCD and comes at a significant moment for the corporation ahead of next year's elections and the ward committee polls.
The BJP has strengthened its position in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi after all 16 councillors of the Indraprastha Vikas Party, a breakaway group of the AAP, merged with the party. The councillors joined the BJP at the party headquarters in the presence of Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Delhi BJP president Harsh Malhotra.
With the merger, the BJP's strength in the 250-member MCD has risen to 139, while the AAP's tally has fallen to 123. The BJP had won 104 seats in the 2022 civic polls, but has steadily increased its numbers through defections.
Welcoming the IVP councillors, Gupta said they had taken the decision with Delhi's development in mind. "It is a good signal that will speed up development in their wards," she told a press conference.
She added, "Development of the city is the top priority of the BJP government. The joining of the IVP councillors will further strengthen the BJP in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and boost civic work in their municipal wards."
Malhotra said the IVP was formed around one-and-a-half years ago by councillors led by Mukesh Goel and Hemchand Goel after they witnessed a "lack of development" under the AAP-led civic administration. He said all 16 IVP councillors formally joined the BJP and took its membership.
Speaking to news agency PTI, IVP president Mukesh Goel said the decision to join the BJP was taken after discussions among the councillors earlier this week.
"We have watched BJP's work for one and a half years, and we collectively think that joining the ruling party will help speed up the developmental work in our respective wards," Goel told PTI.
He said there had been no discussions on any quid pro quo arrangement for positions in the corporation with the ruling party. "Whatever role is assigned to us in the corporationno matter how big or small, we will perform our duties wholeheartedly," he said.
The Indraprastha Vikas Party was formed in May 2025 after 16 AAP councillors broke away from the party following differences with the AAP leadership in the MCD. The development comes ahead of the MCD elections due next year and on the last day for filing nominations for the election of chairpersons and deputy chairpersons of the corporation's 12 ward committees.
Party sources said senior IVP leader Mukesh Goel could be appointed chairman of an ad hoc or special committee of the MCD, while Hemchand Goel may be nominated as the BJP's member to the Standing Committee from the Central Zone, though there was no official announcement on the appointments.
Overall, the merger has lifted the BJP's numbers in the MCD and comes at a significant moment for the corporation ahead of next year's elections and the ward committee polls.
