In a closely contested election, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate Mahesh Kumar Khichi emerged victorious in the Delhi mayoral polls held on Thursday. Khichi, a councillor from Karol Bagh’s Dev Nagar ward, won with 135 votes, defeating the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Kishan Lal from Shakurpur ward, who received 130 votes.
Despite securing a narrow win, Khichi’s total included two invalid votes, and there was some drama in the proceedings, with cross-voting by several AAP members. Ten councillors from the AAP reportedly cast their votes in favor of the BJP candidate, which added an element of intrigue to the result.
Khichi’s victory marks the end of Shelly Oberoi’s tenure, who served as the Delhi mayor from 2023. In his role as mayor, Khichi takes over at a time of heightened political tension between AAP and BJP in the capital.
The mayoral election was seen as crucial for both parties, with the AAP seeking to consolidate its hold on the city’s local governance, while the BJP aimed to reclaim control. Despite the internal divisions, Khichi’s win is a significant achievement for AAP in Delhi’s civic politics.
