BJP councillor Sharma joins AAP in CM Mann's presence

Nearly 10 days after being seen alongside former BJP minister Manoranjan Kalia during a media interaction criticising the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Shivam Sharma, Councillor from Ward No. 12 in the Jalandhar Central Assembly segment, has parted ways with the BJP to join the ruling AAP.

The induction ceremony was marked by the presence of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, AAP halqa in-charge Nitin Kohli, Mayor Vaneet Dhir, party leaders Kaku Ahluwalia, Saurabh Seth and sarpanch Balkaran Singh. Sharma along with Kalia had a few days back maintained that AAP was indulging in unconstitutional activities by allowing its ward in-charges to hold inaugural programmes while sidelining the elected councillors from other parties.

AAP insiders have said the party leaders, including Nitin Kohli, had already started working to get this shift done since the day Kalia had organised the presser. Crediting Kohli for his strategy, the AAP leaders have said the move would boost for party's influence in the city.

The Municipal Corporation has 85 wards, of which AAP could last year win only on 38 wards, falling short of majority mark of 43. The Congress had won 25, BJP 19, BSP one and Independents two wards. Within days, seven councillors, including Independent councillor Seema Rani (Ward no. 81), two from the Congress Parveen Wason (Ward no. 65) and Manmeet Kaur (Ward no. 47), and two from BJP Sulekha Bhagat (Ward no. 63), and Shabnam Duggal (Ward no. 41), had joined AAP taking the figure to 45. With Shivam joining, the AAP strength has gone to 46.

Kohli has maintained constant engagement with local leaders and workers, coordinating outreach and party activities that have steadily strengthened AAP’s foothold in Jalandhar. "Shivam Sharma’s decision to switch sides is being seen as expansion of AAP's support base in a city traditionally dominated by other parties", said AAP leaders.

Shivam is the first-time councillor and represents the area around Biring village. His father has served as the councillor from the Cantonment Board.

Kalia reacted to the development, saying, "AAP is following the politics of convenience. To show oneupmanship in the ongoing Tarn Taran elections, they are trying to show their influence in other cities. Already, 70-80 per cent councillors in AAP have been hijacked from the BJP - some before elections, others after it."