Four Independent councillors join Aam Aadmi Party

Four Independent councillors, who won the Municipal Corporation elections recently, joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) today. Jagmeet Singh, who won from Ward No. 32, Natasha Gill, who got elected from Ward No. 85, Vijay Kumar Bhagat, who won from Ward No. 70, and Mandeep Singh Aujla, who got elected from Ward No. 4, in the civic body polls held on December 21, joined the AAP today.

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With joining of Jagmeet Singh, Natasha Gill, Mandeep Singh and Vijay Kumar Bhagat, the AAP councillors’ number has gone up from 24 to 28. Today, senior party leaders welcomed them into the party fold.

No political party has got majority to nominate its Mayor. The political parties have an eye on eight Independent candidates to prove their majority in the MC House.

However, the AAP is far away from the figure required to prove its majority in the MC House. This development has made it difficult for the Congress to have its Mayor in the upcoming civic body House. Though the Congress had a majority with 40 seats in its kitty, still the party was short of six councillors to prove ultimate majority in the House to have its Mayor. Earlier, two Independent councillors had supported the Congress. Four out of eight Independent councillors have yet to reveal their cards yet. The Congress and the AAP leaders are also trying to connect with the BJP and the SAD candidates to get support in case of the floor test in the MC House.

In the coming days, the notification for electing the Mayor, Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor will likely be issued by the state government. After the notification, the Divisional Commissioner, Jalandhar Range, will issue a letter to the Amritsar Municipal Corporation Commissioner to call a House meeting of the elected councillors and MLAs of the city. First, oath ceremony will be held in the presence of the Divisional Commissioner. After administering oath to councillors, a floor test would be held. Meanwhile, city residents are eagerly waiting the appointment of the Mayor, Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor in the new civic body House.