Chandigarh Mayoral Election Showdown: BJP vs. AAP-Congress Alliance

Chandigarh Mayoral Election Showdown: BJP vs. AAP-Congress Alliance

VoM News Desk | January 30, 2024 | 07:41 AM IST | Breaking News, Chandigarh, Elections 2024 | Follow on Google News

Chandigarh Mayoral Election Showdown: BJP vs. AAP-Congress Alliance/NDTV

Chandigarh Mayoral Election Showdown: BJP vs. AAP-Congress Alliance

The eagerly awaited Chandigarh mayoral election is set to unfold today, marking the first clash between the BJP and an alliance of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress ahead of the general elections. The election, initially scheduled for January 18, was postponed to February 6 due to the illness of the presiding officer Anil Masih and concerns about the prevailing law-and-order situation. Despite protests, Mr. Masih was reappointed, and a three-layer barricade secured the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation. The Chandigarh Press Club has sought media coverage during the voting process, challenging an initial denial.

AAP-Congress Alliance Poses Challenge with 20 Votes

In the 35-member Municipal Corporation House, the AAP and Congress alliance holds a combined total of 20 votes, presenting a formidable challenge to the BJP’s 15 votes. The magic number for victory stands at 19. The election process faced legal hurdles, with the Punjab and Haryana High Court directing the Chandigarh administration to conduct the mayoral polls today, overturning the earlier postponement deemed “unreasonable, unjustified, and arbitrary.” The court emphasized the need for free and fair elections, prohibiting councillors from being accompanied by supporters or security personnel from other states.

Strategic Nominations and Cautious Approach Ahead of Voting

As the election day approaches, all parties are adopting a cautious approach, keeping their councillors on the move. The AAP-Congress alliance strategically nominated candidates for various positions, with Kuldeep Kumar from the AAP contesting for the mayoral post. Voting, scheduled to begin at 10 am, will be conducted through a secret ballot. In this year’s elections, the mayor’s seat is reserved for the Scheduled Caste category, featuring Manoj Sonkar from the BJP and Mr. Kumar from the AAP as contenders.

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The senior deputy mayor post will see a face-off between Kuljeet Sandhu of the BJP and Congress’s Gurpreet Singh Gabi, while the deputy mayor position will be contested between BJP’s Rajinder Sharma and Congress’s Nirmala Devi. The Congress abstained from voting in 2022 and 2023, leading to the BJP’s victory in those polls.

VoM News Desk

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