AAP, BJP, Congress to vie for Mayor post in Chandigarh

Chandigarh:After the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation elections threw up a hung house, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress are all determined to fight for the top posts of Mayor, Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor.

In the December 24 elections for 35 wards, the AAP finished with 14 seats followed by the BJP (12) and Congress (8). Nineteen seats are needed for a majority. In such a situation, it will be a bitter fight to capture the top slots in the corporation.

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) got one seat. Unlike in 2016, it has no alliance with the BJP.
Apart from 35 members in the corporation, Chandigarh MP is an ex-officio member and has the right to vote. Presently, Kirron Kher, the MP from Chandigarh, is from BJP. Thus, the BJP's votes will rise to 13.

Given the situation, all three parties could initiate efforts to occupy the top posts. Due to non-implementation of the anti-defection law in corporation elections, the parties may try to woo others.The present members' term will be valid till January 8. The last meeting of the outgoing members will be held on December 30.

If the Congress and AAP join hands, they can grab the Mayor's post. In 2013, the Congress supported an AAP government in Delhi when no party got a clear majority.But Chandigarh Pradesh Congress President Subhash Chawla has denied an alliance or agreement will be made with AAP. He said the Congress will field candidates for all three mayor posts.

On supporting AAP like in 2013, Chawla said there is a huge difference between Arvind Kejriwal of that time and now. "Kejriwal then wrapped himself in a muffler and called himself a common man. Today's Kejriwal is the most corrupt person in the country."Describing BJP as a traditional political rival, Chawla denied ruled out an alliance with it.(UNI)