Chandigarh MC politics abuzz with talk of 3 AAP councillors joining BJP

Tribune News Service

Sandeep Rana

Chandigarh, February 17

City political circles were today abuzz with the talk of three AAP councillors going to join the BJP.

While there were unconfirmed reports that they have joined the saffron party, a senior BJP leader told Chandigarh Tribune that negotiations with them were still on and soon, they would jump the ship.

According to information, three councillors, along with BJP leaders, had left for Delhi for officially joining the party. The BJP leaders are in Delhi for a national convention of the party. The induction of the three councillors in the BJP may take place in front of senior party leaders in the Capital.

Just speculation: AAP

I have also been hearing about this development. But I spoke to the councillors in the afternoon and they said there was no truth in these reports. — Dr SS Ahluwalia, City AAP Co-in charge

However, the two parties have not officially confirmed the reports in this regard. Dr SS Ahluwalia, city AAP co-in charge, said, “I have also been hearing about this development. But, I spoke to the councillors in the afternoon and they said there was no truth in these reports.”

When asked about the reports doing the rounds, city BJP president Jatinder Pal Malhotra, who is attending the national convention in Delhi, said it was not to his knowledge.

Two female and a male councillor of AAP, who was earlier in the BJP, are said to be going to join the party. The the phone numbers of the three councillors were either “out of reach” or were not picked by them.

If the three councillors defect to the BJP, then the ruling party will have a majority against the INDIA bloc and will benefit in case of mayoral polls are conducted again. At present, the BJP has a total of 15 votes in the MC House (14 councillors and ex officio member, i.e. MP). If this switchover takes place, it will have 18 votes, while the AAP will be reduced to 10. Last time, the lone SAD councillor voted for the ruling party.

The Congress seems to be in no mood to have an alliance with AAP in the mayoral polls after the latter announced that it would contest the Chandigarh Lok Sabha seat on its own.

BJP’s Manoj Sonkar had defeated AAP’s Kuldeep Dhalor Tita, who was fielded under an alliance with the Congress, to win the post of Mayor. The Opposition accused the presiding officer, Anil Masih, of tampering with the votes polled.

Sonkar polled 16 votes against Kuldeep’s 12. Eight votes were declared invalid.

The Supreme Court is set to hear the case on Monday. Some feel the mayoral polls may be conducted again.

Projected mayoral election equation

If the three councillors defect to the BJP, then the ruling party will have a total of 18 votes in the MC House (17 councillors and ex officio member, i.e. MP) and AAP will be reduced to 10. Even if it manages to fight the polls in alliance with the Congress, which has seven councillors, it will still be one vote short against the 18 of the BJP.

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