AAP to debut in municipal elections on May 15

By-polls to 13 wards next month; will set the tone for next year’s civic body elections; AAP, BJP and Congress are all relying on anti-incumbency to favour them

y-elections to 13 municipal wards of the Capital will take place on May 15, the Delhi State Election Commission announced on Tuesday.

The wards had been vacated after the councillors gave up their seats to fight the Delhi Assembly elections in 2013 and 2015. Following an order by the Delhi High Court to hold the by-polls before May-end, the State Election Commission announced that the voting and counting would take place on May 15 and 17 respectively.

State Election Commissioner Rakesh Mehta said the nominations would be accepted from April 18 to April 25. The scrutiny of documents will be on April 27 and the last date for withdrawal of candidature will be April 30.

"The notification will be out on April 18 as there are many holidays this week, including Ambedkar Jayanti," said Mr. Mehta.

He added that a meeting was held with representatives of political parties on Tuesday to discuss the model code of conduct, which will be in force from April 18 in the 13 wards.

Of the wards, seven are in the South Delhi Municipal Corporation, four in the North Delhi Municipal Corporation and two in the East Delhi Municipal Corporation.