New Delhi [India], July 16 : The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday suspended three councillors for cross-voting in the MCD Ward Committee elections held on Wednesday, according to the press release by the party.
Announcing the action on X, AAP's Delhi State President Saurabh Bharadwaj said Nirmal Devi Sharma and Krishna Devi Raghav from the West Zone, and Sultana Azad from the City SP Zone, have been suspended with immediate effect.
He said the action sends a clear message that betrayal of the public mandate and the party will not be tolerated at any cost.
Meanwhile, senior AAP leader and Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the MCD, Ankush Narang, said, "During Wednesday's Ward Committee elections, two cross-votes were cast in the election for the Chairperson's post in the West Delhi Zone. The Aam Aadmi Party had 13 votes, but we received only 11, which means two of our councillors cross-voted. As a result, we have suspended Nirmal Devi Sharma from Ward No. 114 and Krishna Devi Raghav from Ward No. 116 with immediate effect."
Narang further stated that in the City SP Zone as well, Sultana Azad did not vote for the Aam Aadmi Party, due to which the City SP Zone slipped out of AAP's hands. "Therefore, Sultana Azad has also been suspended from the party with immediate effect," he highlighted, the release said.
Narang said that the AAP's message is absolutely clear, traitors will not be allowed to remain in the party. "Any person who betrays the Aam Aadmi Party or cross-votes against the party will be shown the door. Elections are not contested by individual candidates; they are contested by the AAP. This betrayal is a direct act against the AAP, and it will not be forgiven under any circumstances," he asserted.
Narang added that taking immediate action, the party's Delhi State President Saurabh Bharadwaj has expelled these councillors from the party. He warned that if any other councillor even thinks of betraying the AAP in the future, they too will be immediately shown the door.