BJP’s Sundar Singh Tanwar was elected to the 18th and final seat of the Delhi Municipal Corporation's (MCD) Standing Committee on Friday, securing 115 votes—all from BJP councillors. His election gives the BJP control of the powerful Standing Committee, which oversees crucial financial decisions of the MCD. The BJP now controls 10 of the committee's 18 seats, giving it the ability to appoint the Chair.

Tanwar's win is expected to be legally challenged, as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which holds a majority in the MCD with 125 councillors, boycotted the election. AAP did not participate in the voting, citing procedural violations and declaring the election "illegal." The party's absence allowed the BJP to secure the seat uncontested.

The Congress, which has nine councillors, chose to abstain from voting.

The election took place during a late-night session called by Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, sparking further tension between the AAP-led Delhi government and the LG's office. Former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia criticized the election as "illegal," emphasizing that only the Mayor has the authority to convene the House. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal echoed these concerns, accusing the BJP of manipulating the process and violating procedural rules.

Earlier, Mayor Shelly Oberoi had called the election "unconstitutional" and wrote to the MCD Commissioner seeking its cancellation. However, Saxena overturned her objection, instructing the Deputy Mayor to proceed with the election if Oberoi was unavailable.

This dispute is part of an ongoing series of confrontations between the AAP and the Lieutenant Governor. The vacancy on the Standing Committee arose after BJP’s Kamaljeet Sehrawat resigned following her election to the Lok Sabha from West Delhi.