Chandigarh Mayor's post: Now, parties try to rope in councillors to gain majority

Sandeep Rana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 28

With no clear majority in hand, AAP, the BJP and the Congress have an uphill task to get their candidates elected as Mayor and the three parties have started making efforts to rope in councillors.

Also read: AAP accuses BJP of horse-trading

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According to sources, three newly elected Congress councillors are in talks with BJP leaders to join the party. Two or three AAP councillors are also in touch with the BJP to switch sides. However, their own parties are also making all efforts to keep them on board.

The saffron party has 13 votes in the MC House — 12 of councillors and one of ex-officio member, i.e., local MP (Kirron Kher). It needs six more votes to form the majority.

The sources said AAP, which has the highest 14 seats, is also making efforts to rope in councillors of the Congress. But, to ensure that its own house remains in order, the party has called all its councillors to Delhi. However, it might not happen now as Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal is himself coming to Chandigarh on Thursday, said a party leader.

The Congress, which is on the third spot with eight votes, is trying to keep its elected representatives intact. The one from the party, who is supposed to lead the switchover of Congress councillors to the BJP, has been assured that he will be made a Congress candidate in the Mayoral election.

It seems it is going to be a chaotic House as five Mayors are elected during the five-year term of the MC House. “No one getting a majority in the MC House is not actually good for the city. It will only cause commotion and fights, deviating from the main city issues,” said a senior party leader. Meanwhile, in the Mayoral election, the one who gets maximum votes is the winner. In case of a tie, a draw of lots is held. The councillors and the MP will vote through secret ballot in mayoral election. 

Oath to councillors likely on Jan 1

It has been tentatively decided that all 35 elected councillors will be administered the oath at 11:30 am on January 1.

Last House meeting tomorrow

Last House meeting of the current term will be held on December 30. The minutes of the previous meeting will be declared and it will be a sort of farewell to the councillors.