Fearing poaching, AAP shifts Chandigarh councillors to Ropar resort

Sandeep Rana

Chandigarh, January 11

With the mayoral polls around the corner, resort politics is back in the city as AAP shifted all of its 12 councillors to Kikar Lodge in Ropar today.

The development comes a day after its councillor Lakhbir Singh Billu joined the BJP and Chandigarh Tribune reported that two more councillors of AAP were in touch with the ruling party. Fearing more councillors switching sides, 12 remaining councillors were taken to Ropar.

“We will return only on the day of filing nominations on January 13. Thereafter, we are likely to leave for Amritsar and return only at the time of polling on January 18,” confirmed an AAP leader. The councillors had gone to the same place ahead of the mayoral polls last year.

On its part, AAP is also persuading councillors of the BJP and the Congress to join it. Last year, fearing poaching ahead of the mayoral elections, the BJP had taken all of its elected councillors to Shimla.

Even the Congress had shifted its councillors to Jaipur last year. “So far, we have not shifted our councillors as we are all united and do not fear poaching. However, after filing nominations, we may move out,” said a Congress leader.

Senior leaders of AAP, Congress hold talk

Sources said senior Congress leader Rajeev Shukla and AAP leader Raghav Chadha met to decide on a possible alliance for the January 18 mayoral polls. Now, the ball is in the court of high commands of both parties. The decision is likely to come on Friday.

Shukla, who is Chandigarh Congress in charge, held talks with councillors one by one at the Congress Bhawan, Sector 35, today. It could be possible that the Congress offers the post of Mayor to AAP in lieu of the latter’s support in the Lok Sabah elections.

Amritsar next

We will return only on the day of filing nominations on January 13. Thereafter, we are likely to leave for Amritsar and return only at the time of polling on January 18. — AAP leader