Political activity in Chandigarh has intensified as the city gears up for the crucial mayoral election in the Municipal Corporation, scheduled for January 29. With nominations set to be filed on January 22, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Congress, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) are engaged in last-minute deliberations to finalize their candidates for the top posts of mayor, senior deputy mayor, and deputy mayor.
Contenders Emerge as Parties Weigh Options
Inside the BJP camp, four sitting councillors are being considered as probable contenders for the mayor's post. The names in discussion are Mahesh Inder Sidhu, Kanwarjit Rana, Saurabh Joshi, and Dalip Sharma. Party sources indicate that factors like seniority, organizational work, regional balance, and internal consensus will influence the final decision. Keen on retaining control of the mayor's office, the BJP is expected to firm up its candidate after internal consultations closer to the nomination date.
Similarly, the AAP is evaluating multiple candidates. Names like Prem Lata, Yogesh Dhingra, and Damanpreet Singh are reportedly in the mix. AAP leader Sunny Ahluwalia stated that the party will hold a meeting on January 21, just a day before nominations, to decide its final candidates for all three posts.
A Fading Buzz: AAP-Congress Alliance in Doubt
Earlier speculation about a potential electoral understanding between the AAP and the Congress to counter the BJP has significantly diluted. While the Congress's Chandigarh unit president, H S Lucky, mentioned a scheduled meeting to discuss an alliance and candidates, recent sharp public exchanges between leaders of the two parties have cast a shadow over any tie-up.
Both parties have openly questioned each other's intentions, signaling a likely independent approach to the contest. Under a speculated alliance formula, an AAP councillor would contest for mayor, while Congress councillors would vie for the posts of senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor. However, leaders from both sides have reiterated that no formal alliance is currently in place.
A Numbers Game in a Tight House
The electoral math presents a nail-biting contest. The Municipal Corporation House has 35 elected councillors and one ex-officio vote belonging to the sitting MP, making the effective strength 36. A simple majority of 19 votes is needed to secure the mayor's post.
The BJP currently holds 18 councillors, following the recent defection of two AAP councillors to its side, leaving the party just one vote short of the majority mark. On the other side, the AAP and Congress collectively account for the remaining 18 votes—comprising 11 AAP councillors, 6 Congress councillors, and the ex-officio vote of Chandigarh MP Manish Tewari. The absence of a confirmed alliance between them makes the final outcome highly uncertain.
This year's election will be historic as it will be conducted through a "show-of-hands" system instead of a secret ballot, a change implemented after the controversy surrounding the 2024 mayoral polls. The mayor, senior deputy mayor, and deputy mayor are elected annually through an indirect election, even though the councillors themselves have a five-year term.
