Voting is underway in Chandigarh for the highly anticipated Mayor Election, pitting the Congress-Aam Aadmi Party alliance against the Bharatiya Janata Party. With tight security in place and the outcome having far-reaching implications, all eyes are on this showdown between the two political alliances. Stay tuned to see who will emerge victorious and shape the future of Chandigarh’s governance.
The Chandigarh Mayor Election is underway today, and it’s shaping up to be an important showdown between political alliances. On one side, we have the Congress-Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) alliance, and on the other, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
This election holds significance as it is the first major face-off between the RJD and the ‘India’ alliance ahead of the general elections. The voting process for the mayor’s seat is conducted in secret, with reservations for the Scheduled Caste category.
Tight security measures have been put in place, with 800 police personnel and paramilitary forces deployed. Three-tier barricades have also been set up to maintain order and safety.
In terms of numbers, the Congress-AAP alliance currently has 20 votes, while the BJP holds 15 votes in the 35-member Municipal Corporation. The magic number for victory in this election is 19.
For the mayoral seat, the BJP has nominated Manoj Sonakar, while the AAP has put forward Kumar Davendar as their candidate. The race for the position of Senior Deputy Mayor is between Kuljit Singh Sandhu of the BJP and Gurpreet Singh Gabi of the Congress. And finally, the contest for the position of Deputy Mayor is between Rajinder Sharma of the BJP and Nirmala Devi of the Congress.
It’s worth noting that the Punjab and Haryana High Court had previously ordered the election to be held on January 30, overturning the Chandigarh administration’s decision to postpone it.
The outcome of this election will have a significant impact on the future of the BJP’s eight-year rule in Chandigarh and is being seen as a reflection of the upcoming general elections. It will directly influence the local governance and development of Chandigarh.
MP Kirron Kher was among the first to cast her vote in the mayoral election, with a total of 35 votes being cast. The AAP-Congress alliance holds 20 votes, while the BJP has 14 votes, including an additional vote from MP Kirron Kher. The alliance is firmly opposing the BJP in this election.
The candidates nominated for the mayor, deputy mayor, and senior deputy mayor positions include Kuldeep Kumar Titta, Gurpreet Gabi, and Nirmala Devi from the AAP-Congress alliance, and Manoj Sonkar, Kuljit Sandhu, and Rajinder Sharma from the BJP.
Last year, the BJP’s Anoop Gupta emerged victorious in the Mayor election, defeating the AAP candidate. The BJP has been in power in local bodies since 2016, and a loss in the mayor election would have implications throughout the country.
It’s important to note that elected council members and representatives also have a vote alongside the general public. The outcome of this election will determine the party in power and greatly impact the governance of Chandigarh.