Major setback for AAP as two councillors join BJP ahead of Chandigarh mayoral polls
Before the defection, BJP had 16 votes and AAP 13; after Suman Devi and Poonam Devi joined BJP, the count shifted to 18–11
PTC Web Desk: Ahead of the upcoming mayoral elections in Chandigarh scheduled for January, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) suffered a significant setback as two of its women councillors, Suman Devi and Poonam Devi, joined the BJP on Wednesday. They joined the BJP in the presence of party's former mayor Sarbjit Kaur, her husband Kala, and BJP councillor Kanwar Rana.
The city is set for intense political maneuvering as the mayoral polls approach. Chandigarh has a total of 35 elected councillors and the vote of the city’s MP is also counted, bringing the total voting strength to 36. Additionally, there are nine nominated councillors who do not possess voting rights.
Prior to the defection, the BJP held 16 votes, while AAP had 13. With Suman Devi and Poonam Devi joining the BJP, the numbers have now shifted to 18 for the BJP and 11 for the AAP. The Congress holds six councillor votes and with MP Manish Tiwari’s vote, the party’s total comes to seven. A simple majority of 19 votes is required to secure the mayoral seat, putting the BJP just one vote shy of the threshold.
Currently, Harpreet Kaur Babla serves as Chandigarh’s mayor.