Chandigarh Mayor Election: BJP faces opposition challenge in crucial INDIA bloc test

PTC News Desk: In a significant political face-off, the Chandigarh mayoral election is set to unfold today, marking the first electoral battle between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the INDIA bloc—an alliance between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress. The contest gains added significance as it becomes the initial showdown following Nitish Kumar's surprising switch, promising a precursor to the broader political landscape before the general elections.

Amidst this electoral duel, extensive security measures have been implemented, involving approximately 800 police personnel and additional forces from the paramilitary. A three-layer barricade secures the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation premises.

Originally slated for January 18, the mayoral polls faced a postponement to February 6 due to the illness of presiding officer Anil Masih, as declared by the Chandigarh administration. The decision to reschedule, attributed to both health concerns and the prevailing law-and-order situation, drew protests from Congress and AAP councillors. Despite apparent health issues, Anil Masih was reappointed as the presiding authority.

The Chandigarh Press Club has urged the Centre to allow media coverage of the voting process, overcoming the initial denial of access to journalists.

Within the 35-member Municipal Corporation House, the AAP-Congress alliance holds a combined total of 20 votes, presenting a formidable challenge to the BJP's 15 votes, which includes 14 councillors and the crucial additional vote of MP Kirron Kher. The magic number for victory stands at 19.

The election process has not been devoid of legal hurdles. In a January 24 order, the Punjab and Haryana High Court directed the Chandigarh administration to conduct the mayoral polls today, deeming the earlier postponement "unreasonable, unjustified, and arbitrary." Emphasizing the need for free and fair elections, the court prohibited councillors from being accompanied by supporters or security personnel from other states.

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All participating parties have adopted a cautious approach, keeping their councillors on the move before the polling day. The AAP-Congress alliance strategically nominated candidates for various positions, with Kuldeep Kumar from the AAP contesting for the mayoral post. The Congress is fielding candidates for senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor positions.

The AAP-Congress alliance aims to break the BJP's eight-year rule in Chandigarh. Voting is scheduled to commence at 10 am, conducted through a secret ballot. The mayor's seat is reserved for the Scheduled Caste category in this year's elections, with Manoj Sonkar from the BJP and Mr. Kumar from the AAP as contenders. The senior deputy mayor post will witness Kuljeet Sandhu of the BJP against Congress's Gurpreet Singh Gabi, while the deputy mayor position will be contested between BJP's Rajinder Sharma and Congress's Nirmala Devi.

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(Inputs from agencies)

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