In a closely contested battle for the position of senior Deputy Mayor of Chandigarh, BJP's Kuljeet Singh Sandhu emerged victorious with 19 votes, defeating the INDIA alliance candidate Gurpreet Singh by a narrow margin of three votes. The election saw BJP securing 19 votes, while the Congress and AAP coalition garnered 16 votes collectively, with one vote deemed invalid.
The Result:
BJP's Kuljeet Singh Sandhu secured 19 votes to win the senior Deputy Mayor position.
The BJP's victory comes days after a setback in the mayoral polls, marking a significant turnaround for the party.
Background:
The initial appointment of Sandhu and Sharma as senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor, respectively, was overturned following a Supreme Court ruling declaring Kuldeep Kumar as the validly elected Mayor of Chandigarh Municipal Corporation.
Subsequently, fresh nominations were filed, and the parties re-fielded the same candidates for the positions.
Key Numbers:
The BJP's strength in the 36-member house stood at 17, bolstered by three AAP councillors who switched sides, in addition to the vote of Chandigarh MP Kirron Kher and support from an Akali Dal councillor.
This cumulative support secured 19 votes for the BJP, surpassing the combined 17 votes of the AAP and Congress.
Significance:
The BJP's victory in the deputy mayor elections holds significance following the recent Supreme Court verdict overturning the earlier mayoral appointment.
The win underscores the BJP's resilience and strategic maneuvering in the face of electoral challenges, reaffirming its position in Chandigarh's political landscape.
Moving Forward:
With Kuljeet Singh Sandhu's election as senior Deputy Mayor, the BJP aims to consolidate its position and assert its influence in Chandigarh's municipal governance.
The victory paves the way for renewed focus on local development initiatives and collaboration with stakeholders to address key challenges facing the city.
