Chandigarh: Two mayoral seats up for grabs again

Sandeep Rana

Chandigarh, February 22

Elections to the posts of Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor will be held again. The BJP has one-vote edge against INDIA bloc partners Congress and AAP in MC House.

“….The other elections, which are required to be held in terms of the regulations shall now take place in accordance with law, save and except for the election of the Mayor which has been resolved by the final directions which have been issued herein-above. The writ petition before the High Court shall stand disposed of…,” read the Supreme Court order, a copy of which was released today.

The Congress had filed a plea in the High Court for setting aside the elections

to the two mayoral posts. The HC is to hear the case on February 26.

When the BJP’s Manoj Sonkar was announced Mayor after eight votes were wrongly declared invalid by presiding officer Anil Masih, Opposition councillors had boycotted the elections to the other two posts, which are conducted by the Mayor.

Since the court has set aside the Mayor’s election and declared Tita the winner, the two polls are to be conducted by him.

The BJP councillors, Kuljit Singh and Rajinder Sharma, were declared winners against Congress’ councillors and alliance nominees Gurpreet Singh Gabi and Nirmala Devi to the posts of Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor, respectively.

Numbers with BJP

With switch by three AAP councillors, the BJP has 18 votes in the MC House (17 councillors and ex officio member, i.e. MP) against 17 of the alliance. Last time, the lone SAD councillor voted for BJP.