Chandigarh Mayoral Polls: A Fierce Battle Between BJP and Congress-AAP Alliance

The upcoming Chandigarh mayoral polls promise a gripping contest as the BJP and the Congress-AAP alliance lock horns, each confident of securing victory. The polls carry added significance as the Congress and AAP, both members of the INDIA bloc, have joined forces to unseat the BJP from its eight-year reign as mayor.

On Thursday, Chandigarh will hold its mayoral elections, with both the BJP and the Congress-AAP alliance expressing confidence in their ability to win. The mayoral elections this year are particularly significant because the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), both members of the INDIA bloc, have joined forces to challenge the BJP's eight-year hold on the mayor's office.

AAP Candidate Seeks Court Supervision for Fair Election

In an effort to ensure a free and fair election, AAP candidate for mayor Kuldeep Kumar filed a petition with the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday evening, requesting the appointment of a court commissioner to oversee the Chandigarh mayoral poll process. However, during an urgent hearing on Wednesday night, a division bench of Justices Deepak Sibal and Deepak Manchanda rejected the plea for a court commissioner.

Nominations Withdrawn, Videography to be Conducted

During the hearing, the petitioners' counsel Ramanpreet Bara informed reporters that the UT administration had accepted the withdrawal of nominations from Congress nominee for mayor Jasbir Singh Bunty and AAP candidates Neha Musavat and Poonam for the posts of senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor, respectively. Senior standing counsel Anil Mehta assured the court that videography of the entire election process would be conducted, as has been done in the past.

Congress-AAP Alliance and BJP Exude Confidence

Under the Congress-AAP alliance, the AAP will contest for the mayor's seat while the Congress will vie for the posts of senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor. The polls for these positions will be held on Thursday. AAP senior leader Raghav Chadha and senior Congress leader Pawan Kumar Bansal met in Chandigarh on the eve of the elections, discussing their strategies and expressing confidence in their respective alliances' victories.

BJP's Dominance and Cross-Voting Possibility

Currently, the BJP holds a majority in the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation with 14 councillors, along with an ex-officio member, MP Kirron Kher, who has voting rights. The AAP has 13 councillors, the Congress has seven, and the Shiromani Akali Dal has one councillor. Despite the BJP's dominance, the possibility of cross-voting cannot be ruled out, as the mayor is elected by secret ballots by the councillors.

The Chandigarh mayoral polls have garnered significant attention due to the alliance between the Congress and AAP, challenging the BJP's stronghold. As the city prepares for the elections, both alliances remain confident in their ability to secure victories in the mayoral, senior deputy mayor, and deputy mayor positions. The outcome of these polls will not only determine the leadership of Chandigarh but also set the stage for future political dynamics in the region.