Gurgaon: Ward 28 councillor Dharmabir Bhangrola was elected senior deputy mayor and ward 25 councillor Anoop Singh was elected deputy mayor of MCG on Monday, both unopposed, after a day of intense deliberations involving Haryana ministers, MLAs and councillors.The outcome came only after hours of negotiations at BJP’s city office, Guru Kamal, and a tense build-up to the scheduled election at Haryana Institute of Public Administration (HIPA).The prolonged discussions, despite there being no eventual contest, underscored the political stakes attached to the leadership of MCG, the state’s principal revenue-generating municipal corporation. The elections were held more than 17 months after Gurgaon elected its mayor and councillors on March 12, 2025.The day began with BJP struggling to settle on names despite its commanding position in the 36-member House. Sources said the deliberations initially revolved around a contest for the senior deputy mayor’s post between ward 11 councillor Kuldeep Yadav, considered close to state minister and Badshapur MLA Rao Narbir Singh camp, and ward 24 councillor Arti Yadav, backed by the faction associated with Union minister and Gurgaon MP Rao Inderjit Singh. With both sides reportedly holding firm, a consensus remained elusive, and the party subsequently intervened and suggested two alternative names be considered.The political negotiations were further complicated by Narbir Singh’s engagement with chief minister Nayab Singh Saini, who was also in the city.Narbir said he had been occupied with the CM’s programme and therefore joined the meeting late, contributing to the delay. Thirty-two of the 36 councillors were present. The ministers, MLAs and councillors later proceeded to HIPA, where the election meeting was scheduled for 11am but all of them arrived at the poll venue at 4.36pm.The final phase at HIPA was not entirely without tension. According to sources, MLA Mukesh Sharma opened a chit at the venue and announced that the party Sangathan (organisation) had proposed the names of Bhangrola and Anoop. Under the election procedure, a councillor must propose a candidate’s name, which another councillor must second. When Bhangrola’s name was proposed for senior deputy mayor, sources said ward 23 councillor Kunal Yadav put forward the name of Kuldeep Yadav, who had been considered a front-runner for the post. One of the MLAs present then asked Kuldeep whether he intended to contest despite the party’s decision. Kuldeep eventually accepted the party’s choice and declined to contest, paving the way for Bhangrola’s unopposed election.The episode offered a glimpse into the balancing act involved in managing BJP’s internal equations — the party had the numbers to secure both posts, but reaching agreement on who would occupy them proved considerably more difficult. The eventual formula brought together representatives of the two rival camps. Rather than allowing a potentially divisive contest, BJP opted for a compromise that accommodated both camps.The results were announced by education minister Mahipal Dhanda in the presence of Narbir Singh, Gurgaon MLA Mukesh Sharma and Sohna MLA Tejpal Tanwar — a show of senior BJP leadership reflecting the importance the party attached to the decision.Dhanda sought to project the outcome as a demonstration of unity. “After all our party leaders had discussion with councillors over the posts, two councillors were elected unopposed. With the support of our ministers and MLAs, the team of mayor, senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor and councillors will work to resolve the problems of Gurgaon,” he said.“This is not about caste or community. Our party does not operate on the basis of caste or community. Decisions are made through consensus and the names on which everyone agrees are chosen,” he added.Narbir defended the time taken to arrive at the decision. “I was occupied in a meeting with the CM so I turned up late for the party meeting and then we also deliberated on the issue. It is good that a unanimous decision was taken by the party otherwise elections had to be held. That’s why it took us some time,” he said.“Waterlogging, garbage and other civic issues including roads and sewerage network will be my top priority,” said Anoop. Bhangrola too conceded and said, “We will work as a team to resolve the issues of the city.”Gurgaon is Haryana’s economic powerhouse and a major source of revenue for the state, but its civic administration has been grappling with persistent problems, including waterlogging, garbage management, deteriorating infrastructure and other urban challenges. For residents, MCG’s ability to address these depends on effective coordination between the mayor, councillors and the corporation’s administrative machinery.Bhangrola, who won the elections on an SC seat last year, and Anoop were both councillors in the previous MCG House; Anoop was also elected to F&CC last year.BJP secured 24 of the 36 seats in the March 12, 2025, civic polls — its first majority in MCG. Independents won 10 seats, while Congress and JJP secured one seat each. Several Independents subsequently joined BJP, further strengthening its position, and the party’s effective strength later rose to 32, according to reports. However, the numbers still did not translate into an early agreement on the two posts.The elections took place against the backdrop of judicial scrutiny over the prolonged delay. Punjab and Haryana high court is scheduled to hear a contempt petition on Tuesday. The petition, filed by advocate Rohit Madan, concerns the failure to hold the elections within the timeframe assured to the court.During proceedings on March 5, the state govt had assured the high court that the elections would be conducted within eight weeks. When the deadline passed without the polls being held, the delay became the subject of contempt proceedings. On Aug 6, the high court issued notices to MCG commissioner Pradeep Dahiya and the corporation in connection with the petition, and fixed Sept 15 for the next hearing.On April 30, a special House meeting was convened following the high court’s intervention, but proceedings were deferred after mayor Raj Rani Malhotra did not attend. The episode triggered further political scrutiny after the mayor was seen participating in an MCG cleanliness campaign the following day, although the civic body maintained that she had stayed away from the election meeting on medical grounds.
