Who is Pravesh Wahi? Meet Delhi's Newly Elected Mayor with a Landslide Victory!
Pravesh Wahi Takes Charge as Delhi's Mayor
In a significant political development, Pravesh Wahi, a BJP councillor representing Rohini E ward, was elected as the new Mayor of Delhi on Wednesday, achieving a remarkable victory.
This outcome was widely expected, given the BJP's majority in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). The Opposition party, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), opted not to participate in the mayoral election, allowing Wahi to triumph over Congress candidate Mohammad Zarif.
Out of 165 votes cast in the election, Wahi received an impressive 156 votes, while his opponent from Congress garnered only nine.
In addition to the mayoral election, councillors also elected Monika Pant from ward 206, Anand Vihar, as the new Deputy Mayor.
Wahi, who represents Ward 53-E in Rohini, previously won his seat with a substantial margin during the 2022 municipal elections.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Shivaji College, Delhi University, which he completed in 1984. Currently, he serves as the Leader of the House in the MCD.
His political career began with the BJP Yuva Morcha in 2002, where he took on various organizational roles before entering electoral politics.
Wahi was first elected as a councillor in 2007 from Rohini and later from Naharpur, serving a second term from 2012 to 2017.
Throughout his career, he has held significant positions, including chairman of the Rohini zonal committee from 2010 to 2012 and chairman of the standing committee in the former North Corporation from 2016 to 2017.
Expressing his gratitude towards Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and other Delhi government ministers for their support, Wahi stated that financial issues facing the MCD are no longer a pressing concern.
He emphasized that, if elected, he would prioritize enhancing sanitation services with the assistance of the Delhi government, which has been providing financial support.
On Monday, Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta nominated 14 legislators to the electoral college for the mayoral election, including 11 MLAs from the BJP and three from the AAP.
The next general elections for all 250 wards of the MCD are anticipated to take place in 2027, as the current council has a five-year term that began in late 2022. However, according to the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, the Mayor's term is limited to one year.
Members of Parliament, who also have voting rights in the MCD alongside the 14 nominated MLAs, strategized ahead of the election to ensure a seamless victory for the BJP candidate.
The meeting was led by Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva and Union Minister of State Harsh Malhotra, with attendance from MPs including Manoj Tiwari, Yogender Chandolia, and Kamaljeet Sehrawat.