Chandigarh: The high-stakes Chandigarh mayoral polls began today, January 30, after they were postponed due to presiding officer Anil Masih falling ill. The earlier deferring of the polls just moments before councilors were about to cast their votes triggered protest by the Aam Aadmi Party and the Congress members who accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of orchestrating the turn of events.
The mayoral elections are also seen as the first try-out run for the INDIA bloc vs BJP ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, which are scheduled later this year.
Originally planned for January 18, the elections were postponed to February 6 by the Chandigarh administration after the presiding officer fell ill and due to an assessment of the law-and-order situation. However, the Punjab and Haryana High Court directed the Union Territory administration to hold the mayoral polls on January 30.
The deputy commissioner had earlier announced February 6 as the next date for the polls, which was retrenched to an earlier date following the Punjab and Haryana high court directing the UT administration to hold the elections on January 30.
As per the fresh notification, the voting began at 10 am at the Assembly Hall of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation (MC), Sector 17. Elections for the senior deputy and deputy mayor posts will be held simultaneously.
This electoral showdown holds particular importance as it’s a litmus test for the INDIA bloc, with the Congress and AAP forging an alliance to challenge the BJP’s stronghold on the mayor’s office over the past eight years. Under the alliance, AAP is vying for the mayor’s position, while the Congress is putting forth candidates for senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor roles.
With the BJP holding 14 out of 35 seats in the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation and MP Kirron Kher enjoying voting rights as an ex-officio member, the political landscape is poised for a significant shift if the opposition manages to secure victory.
In the 35-member municipal corporation house, the AAP and the Congress together have 20 votes, while the BJP, which has been ruling the MC for eight years, has 15 votes — 14 of councillors and one of MP Kirron Kher. The magic number is 19.
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