BJP comes up with 3 names for posts of Mayor, Dy Mayor

SHIMLA: Even as five names — Satya Kaundal, Shailender Chauhan, Sanjiv Thakur, Meera Sharma and Vivek Sharma — are doing the rounds for the posts of Mayor and Deputy Mayor, the BJP has formed a five-member committee, which is likely to meet here on December 15 or 16, to suggest two candidates for the elections scheduled for December 17.

Kuldeep Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, December 8

Even as five names — Satya Kaundal, Shailender Chauhan, Sanjiv Thakur, Meera Sharma and Vivek Sharma — are doing the rounds for the posts of Mayor and Deputy Mayor, the BJP has formed a five-member committee, which is likely to meet here on December 15 or 16, to suggest two candidates for the elections scheduled for December 17.

According to sources, the BJP and the Sangh Parivar have zeroed in on three names — Satya Kaundal, Shailender Chauhan and Sanjiv Thakur — for the posts.

But the candidates will be finalised by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur.

Even Thakur’s predecessors — Virbhadra Singh and PK Dhumal - ensured that the Mayor was of their choice, said observers.

The five-member committee is likely to suggest the two names. The local BJP mandal will also play a vital role in the process. The Mayor may be from the “main city wards” and the Deputy Mayor from the merged areas, which mainly fall in Kasumpati. Only four wards fall in Shimla (Rural).

As both these segments are with the Congress, the BJP is trying to influence voters in Kasumpati.

“All two-time councillors — Satya Kaundal from Sanjauli Chowk, Shailender Chauhan from Mashobra ward and Sanjiv Thakur from a city ward — have a strong footing,” said the sources.

Meera Sharma, a three-time councillor from Sangti and Vivek Sharma from Majjath, which is in Shimla (Rural) are lagging behind.

Already, hectic lobbying is going on between the Education Minister Suresh Bhardwaj, who is Shimla legislator, and the Chief Whip, Narinder Bragta, both rivals, said the sources.

“Being a city MLA, the stakes for Bhardwaj are high, while Bragta, who is considered to be a PK Dhumal’s man, is also trying hard to put his “yes-man” in the driving seat,” said party workers.

Kusum Sadret and Rakesh Sharma may not get another term as the BJP wants to expand its base by bringing in new faces.

The Congress has only 12 councillors, while the BJP has 21 and one belongs to the CPM in the 34-member House. The Urban Development Department has issued a notification for the conduct of elections on December 17 when the term of the present Mayor ends.

The new Mayor will take oath on December 20 or after,” said officials.