‘Shadow councillors’ on mind, AAP eyes Chandigarh MC poll

Amit Sharma

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 20

With an aim to cement their base and pitch candidates for the Municipal Corporation (MC) elections, to be held next year, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will introduce a “shadow MC” under which a “shadow councillor” will be nominated for each MC ward, who will listen to the problems and demands of ward residents, which will be put forward before MC officials for redressal.

AAP’s unit in Chandigarh got a boost following the party’s thumping victory in the Delhi Assembly poll. The party leadership in Chandigarh has now decided to connect with voters in the city to make their presence felt, which the party had failed to do in the past few years.

AAP city president Prem Garg said the party was preparing a road map for the

MC poll as per which they would run a shadow MC with the help of people from all walks of life who have expertise in their own fields.

“The shadow cabinet or shadow ministry is a feature of the Westminster system of government. It consists of a group of opposition, which forms an alternative cabinet to that of the government, and whose members shadow or mirror the positions of each individual member of the cabinet,” Garg said.

The “shadow councillor” of AAP will act as a councillor in each ward and listen to the problems of the residents.

Garg said as a shadow MC, they would scrutinise the policies and actions of the MC, as well as offer alternative policies. “AAP’s super 30 team will take up MC agenda items two days before the MC House meetings and will brainstorm on each point. It will send the result of its discussions to the MC Commissioner before the MC House meeting and will also make it public,” he said.

It will be a positive contribution to the MC’s working, without any unnecessary condemnation of any political party, said Garg. AAP is planning to leave it to the “shadow councillors” whether or not to contest the MC poll from their ward. While AAP candidates have unsuccessfully contested the the Lok Sabha elections twice, it will be the first time it will pitch candidates for the MC poll, which are scheduled to be held next year.

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