All 16 councillors of the Indraprastha Vikas Party (IVP) are expected to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday, July 10, 2026, the last day for filing nominations for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) Standing Committee elections. The move will significantly strengthen the BJP's position in the civic body.
Sources confirmed that the induction ceremony will take place in the presence of Delhi BJP president Harsh Malhotra and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, following finalised discussions between the two parties. The IVP was formed in May 2025 by a group of 15 rebel councillors who resigned from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The party is led by six-time councillor Mukesh Goel, with Himani Jain and Hemchand Goel playing key leadership roles. The IVP later expanded its strength to 16 councillors.
Impact on MCD strength and majority
With the induction of the 16 councillors, the BJP's strength in the 250-member MCD House is expected to increase from 122 to 138, comfortably taking the party past the majority mark of 125. The AAP currently has 102 councillors, the Congress has nine, and the Forward Bloc has one. The BJP's new tally of 138 will give it a clear majority, ending the political uncertainty that followed the split in the AAP ranks.
According to sources, as part of the understanding between the two parties, IVP councillors are likely to be accommodated in various zonal committees as well as the Standing Committee of the MCD. This will ensure that the BJP can consolidate its control over key decision-making bodies within the corporation.
Background of the IVP split
The split that led to the formation of the IVP occurred within months of the AAP's defeat in the February 2025 Delhi Assembly elections. The emergence of the new party disrupted elections to ward committees and the Standing Committee, creating a political deadlock. The BJP subsequently regained control of the mayor's post and secured an advantage in the Standing Committee. The IVP councillors have been key swing votes in the MCD, and their formal merger with the BJP ends the period of political fluidity.
The IVP's decision to join the BJP is seen as a strategic move ahead of the Standing Committee elections, where the BJP now has a stronger chance of securing key positions. The Standing Committee is a powerful body that oversees major financial and administrative decisions in the MCD.
