Mayor likely to be picked by weekend, poll for her deputy

GURGAON: The BJP is most likely to announce the names of the new mayor by this weekend, more than a month after the MCG elections were held. The party won just 14 of 35 seats but secured majority with the support of Independents, most of them rebel candidates who were unhappy with ticket distribution.

However, with party factions still warring over who will be senior deputy mayor, the BJP leadership may have to hold an election for the post.

The MCG election was held on September 24 and the results were declared the same evening.

The official notification of the election results was issued on October 3. According to the rulebook, the mayor, senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor have to be elected within a month (i.e. by November 3) of this notification.

However, soon after the poll results, two rival BJP factions, led by Gurgaon MP and Union minister Rao Inderjit Singh and state minister Rao Narbir Singh, locked horns, each pushing its candidate for the mayor's post, which has been reserved for a woman from the schedule castes.

While Inderjit proposed the name of Madhu Azad, who won from ward 7 on a BJP ticket, Narbir backed Sheetal Bagri, who bagged ward 10 as an Independent. Finally, the BJP leadership intervened and said a rebel candidate could not become mayor, rejecting Sheetal's candidature.

But it failed to end the bickering as heated debates over the senior deputy mayor's post continued. Party sources said a total of 12 Yadav candidates won the seats this time and in all likelihood, one of them would occupy the post.

But, Inderjit is backing Sunita Yadav while Rao Narbir wants Parveen Lata to get the senior deputy mayor's post.

"It is almost certain that Inderjit will have his say (in getting Madhu Azad mayor's post). Therefore, for the senior deputy mayor's seat, it has to be someone from Narbir's faction. But, Inderjit will not leave the ground so easily. So, an election can be held and whoever has the numbers will win. The party, though, is trying to bring the two warring factions around to avoid an election," said a senior BJP leader.

The post of deputy mayor is likely to be handed over to Subhash Singla, who is from the Baniya caste.