13 Delhi councillors quit AAP, announce new political party led by Mukesh Goel

In a significant political shake-up in Delhi, 13 councillors of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have resigned and announced the launch of a new political outfit named Indraprastha Vikas Party. The move was spearheaded by senior leader Mukesh Goel, who previously held the position of Leader of the House in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).

Goel, a seasoned municipal politician with over 25 years of experience, had contested the recent Delhi Assembly elections on an AAP ticket from Adarsh Nagar but failed to secure a win. His political journey includes a prior affiliation with the Congress party, which he left in 2021 to join AAP.

The announcement comes just days after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) reclaimed control of the MCD by winning the civic body elections. The AAP had boycotted the polls, which further exposed the party’s internal rifts and dwindling influence in Delhi’s civic administration.

The resignation of the 13 councillors deepens the crisis within AAP’s Delhi unit, already under strain following its poor performance in the Assembly elections held earlier this year. In response to growing dissatisfaction and infighting, the party had reshuffled its leadership in March—appointing Saurabh Bharadwaj as Delhi unit president and reallocating responsibilities to key leaders including Manish Sisodia and Gopal Rai.

The formation of the Indraprastha Vikas Party adds a new layer of complexity to Delhi's political landscape, especially with former AAP leaders now positioning themselves as an alternative force ahead of future civic and legislative contests.