Mahabal Mishra, a former congressman and a prominent figure in the Purvanchal community, joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday, just days before the vital MCD elections in Delhi. In the presence of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, Mahabal Mishra, a three-time MLA for the Congress and a councillor, formally joined the party that controls Delhi.

Vinay Mishra, an AAP MLA from Dwarka, is the father of Mahabal Mishra. On December 4, voting will take place in the 250 wards of the MCD, and on December 7, voting results will be tallied.

Arvind Kejriwal was in Pahadganj to address a public rally for the MCD poll campaign when Mishra was formally inducted into the AAP. "Don't vote for those who want to stop development and welfare work in Delhi, "Arvind Kejriwal said.

Speaking at an MCD event in Karol Bagh, Kejriwal said: "The BJP has planned a plot to halt Delhi residents' access to free electricity. I won't permit them to prevail."

"You gave me 67 out of 70 seats in assembly polls. I don't want anything less than that," he added.

"The BJP ruled the municipal wards in Delhi for 15 years. What good work have they done? If AAP is voted to power, we will make sure that no pile of garbage will be found on the streets of Delhi. You should vote for those who work and not for those who obstruct it."

"In our tenure, we improved schools and hospitals, provided free electricity and water besides installing CCTVs and building 'mohalla clinics', but we feel sad that we could not do anything about improving sanitation as it is the responsibility of MCD.