Even after becoming Delhi’s Mayor, Raja Iqbal Singh continues to shamelessly hold on to his membership in the MCD’s Standing Committee—sparking serious questions from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Leader of Opposition (LoP) in MCD House, Ankush Narang, expressed shock, saying this is perhaps the first time in history that a Mayor is refusing to resign from a committee that is supposed to report to him.
“In what capacity will Raja Iqbal now sit in meetings of a committee that is answerable to the Mayor himself?” Ankush Narang asked, demanding that Raja Iqbal respect basic protocol and morality by stepping down from the committee and apologising to the people of Delhi.
During a press conference, MCD LoP Ankush Narang, displayed a letter addressed to the Mayor and raised serious questions regarding Raja Iqbal’s dual roles. “Raja Iqbal became the Mayor on 25 April, but he continues to remain a Standing Committee member from the Civil Lines Zone,” he said.
He pointed out that the MCD elects 18 Standing Committee members from the House and 12 from different zones, out of which the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson are chosen. “A recent notification has announced fresh elections for Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the zones, as well as Standing Committee members from City-SP and South Zone, due to resignations by Aam Aadmi Party councillors,” he added.
Raising a constitutional and moral issue, Ankush Narang said, “Raja Iqbal is a Standing Committee member from the Civil Lines Zone, and never in history has it happened that a Mayor sits below in the meeting as a Committee member while the Chairperson sits above.” He emphasised that the Standing Committee reports to the Mayor, and hence Raja Iqbal should have resigned from the Committee post the day he assumed office as Mayor.
“I had expected that he would also resign from the Civil Lines Zone post, but till now neither has he resigned, nor has any notification been issued—while notifications for other zones have already been released,” he said. With nominations open until 27 May, he demanded that Raja Iqbal resign from the Standing Committee on moral grounds and urged him to inform the people of Delhi what greed compels him to cling to the post.
Speaking on Wednesday’s House session, which was conducted after two and a half years for nearly five hours, Ankush Narang highlighted the role of the Opposition. “The Opposition plays a crucial role in running the House. When BJP was in Opposition, they would enter with a negative mindset, immediately staging protests and dharnas,” he said. “They would wave black papers that had no relevance to the public of Delhi and get the House adjourned. Repeated such actions meant the House couldn’t function at all.”
Recalling past incidents, Ankush Narang said, “There have been several instances when BJP members dragged and broke the chair of the woman Mayor from AAP. They even broke mics multiple times in the MCD House to stall proceedings.” He added, “Before Wednesday, the House had functioned only once—in August 2023—when the BJP boycotted it. That day, AAP and Congress councillors discussed issues concerning residents of Delhi and their constituencies.”
The MCD LoP highlighted the contrast by stating, “Wednesday marked the second time the House functioned, and this time AAP was in Opposition. Yet, we played a constructive role. Wherever necessary, we protested, but we also ensured that the House functioned.”
He stressed that the functioning of the House depends on the Opposition. “The BJP used to come with a mindset that neither benefited councillors nor the people of Delhi. In contrast, AAP came with a positive mindset, made remarkable decisions over the past two years, and continued to facilitate the House even after going into Opposition.”
Reflecting on the participation in the session, Ankush Narang said, “Around 66 councillors shared their concerns on Wednesday, with BJP councillors speaking the most. Their pain was greater, as their issues were not being resolved. This proves that AAP engages in constructive politics, facilitates smooth proceedings in the House, and its councillors will continue to do so positively for the welfare of Delhi’s people.”
Speaking on the issue of user charges, Ankush Narang said that the Aam Aadmi Party had been consistently opposing it through letters and formal proposals, but all their efforts were dismissed. “Even after BJP introduced its own private bill, AAP continued its protest four days ago,” he stated.
The MCD House LoP added that during that protest, the Mayor kept explaining the procedural steps, saying the matter would go to the Standing Committee and then be passed. “But due to the pressure exerted by AAP councillors, the people of Delhi, RWAs, and market associations, the user charges had to be withdrawn immediately,” he said. “Let BJP take the credit, but the struggle was AAP’s. That’s fine. What matters is that the people of Delhi have got relief.”
Ankush Narang highlighted that AAP had from the very beginning demanded a house tax waiver on houses up to 100 square yards, and 50% waiver for houses up to 500 square yards, a resolution that was passed in the House. “There’s nothing above the House,” he stressed. He added that AAP had also proposed that if a person pays one year’s tax from the dues between 2004 and 2025, the remaining amount should be waived—this would have increased revenue.
“But BJP brought in its own amnesty scheme and did not implement AAP’s plan, simply because it belonged to AAP,” he said. Narang concluded by saying, “Even if BJP implements the scheme and takes credit, AAP has no objection.”
Leader of Opposition Ankush Narang’s letter to Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh
In a letter addressed to Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh, Leader of Opposition of the Aam Aadmi Party in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Ankush Narang wrote:
’On 25 April 2025, you were duly appointed as the Mayor of Delhi in the meeting of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. As you are already aware, as per the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957, the Mayor is the supreme authority in the Delhi Municipal Corporation and the entire Corporation functions under their directives. The Chairpersons and Vice-Chairpersons of all constitutional, ad hoc, and special committees under the Delhi Municipal Corporation submit information regarding their respective subjects and decisions to the Mayor.”
He added, “A Standing Committee is also constituted within the Delhi Municipal Corporation, for which one member each is elected from the Ward Committees of all 12 zones under the Corporation, and 6 members are elected from the Municipal House, after which 1 Chairperson and 1 Vice-Chairperson are elected from among the members of the Standing Committee. The Standing Committee also reports all important decisions related to the Corporation to the Mayor through the House.”
He further wrote, “Before being appointed as the Mayor of Delhi, you were serving as the Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Municipal Corporation and last year you were also elected as a member of the Standing Committee by the Municipal House. It has now been almost a month since you assumed the office of Mayor, yet it is highly surprising that you have not resigned from the post of Standing Committee member.”
Ankush Narang wrote, “It is truly astonishing how you are still continuing as a member of the Standing Committee. Would this not be considered a violation of protocol? And shouldn’t you have resigned from the Standing Committee membership on moral grounds the moment you assumed the office of Mayor? It would not be an exaggeration for me to say that you too have upheld the BJP tradition of clinging to posts by any means possible, even if it means trampling over protocol and morality.”
“I am unable to understand, if tomorrow the Standing Committee of the Corporation is constituted, then in what capacity will you attend the meetings of the Corporation’s committee, when it is the Standing Committee that reports to the Mayor. As the Leader of Opposition, I demand that you immediately resign from the post of Standing Committee member keeping in mind ethics and protocol, and publicly express regret for not having resigned until now,” he concluded.
