BJP-JJP suffers blow in Ambala MC poll amid farm protests

Nitish Sharma

Tribune News Service

Ambala, December 30

In a major setback to the BJP-JJP alliance, Haryana Jan Chetna Party (V) mayoral candidate Shaktirani Sharma today defeated Dr Vandana Sharma by 8,084 votes.

Shaktirani maintained the lead from the very first round and became the first woman Mayor of the Ambala MC.

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Shaktirani was polled 37,604 votes, Dr Vandana Sharma 29,520, while HDF’s Amisha Chawla 16,421 and Congress’ Meena Aggarwal 13,797. As many as 871 voters chose NOTA. Veena Dhall, who filed papers as an Independent and later extended support to Shaktirani, was polled 377 votes. Except the HJP (V) and BJP-JJP candidates, all lost their security deposit.

Shaktirani, wife of HJP (V) chief Venod Sharma, said, “I thank people for their support. We will fulfill all promises. All councillors will work for the betterment of Ambala.” Dr Sanjay Sharma, BJP state spokesman, said, “We accept the mandate and will find out the reason for the defeat.”