A third attempt to elect a Delhi Mayor failed last week (File)

New Delhi:

The Delhi’s civic body will meet on Thursday to elect a mayor after three failed attempts amid a tussle between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the BJP.

Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena this morning accepted the Aam Aadmi Party or AAP’s proposal to hold the mayor election on February 16, officials said.

The mayor could not be elected when the councilors met on January 6 and 24, and February 6 following protests by the BJP and AAP after 10 councillors nominated by the Lieutenant were allowed to vote.

The Delhi Municipal Corporation Act says nominated members, or aldermen, cannot vote in house meetings.

AAP has alleged the BJP is trying to capture the Municipal Corporation of Delhi by electing a BJP leader to the mayor’s post, although the AAP won far more seats than the BJP in the recent election to the civic body.

Though AAP has a majority in the corporation after its big win in the December civic polls, a secret ballot and cross-voting could change the outcome.

The AAP emerged as the clear winner in the MCD polls in December, winning 134 wards and ending the BJP’s 15-year rule in the civic body.

The BJP won 104 wards to finish second, while the Congress won nine seats.

This will be the first time in 10 years that the city will have one mayor, following the merger of three divisions of the municipal body last year.