Congress panel to identify those who cross-voted

Nearly two months after mayoral elections, the Chandigarh unit of the Congress has constituted a three-member fact-finding committee to identify the councillors who indulged in cross-voting leading to election of a BJP mayor.

During the elections on January 30, three cross-votes from the Congress-AAP alliance had helped BJP’s Harpreet Kaur Babla become the first citizen.

Chandigarh Pradesh Congress Committee (CPCC) president HS Lucky stated that the fact-finding committee would investigate and identify those behind the cross-voting. The committee has been tasked with speaking to all concerned individuals and submitting a report based on its findings.

The members of the committee include vice-presidents of city’s Congress unit Jatinder Bhatia and Pawan Sharma, and senior Congress leader NK Nanda.

The alliance has 20 votes, including 13 of AAP councillors, six of Congress and one vote of MP Manish Tewari as ex officio member. It was expecting a comfortable victory during the mayoral elections. However, three cross-votes helped Harpreet secure 19 votes, defeating AAP candidate Prem Lata by two votes.

Sources said AAP had also decided to form a similar committee to identify who voted for the BJP candidate.