BJP Secures Complete Control in Chandigarh Municipal Corporation Elections
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has successfully retained its control over the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation, achieving a clean sweep by winning all three key positions in the elections held on Thursday. The saffron party secured the posts of mayor, senior deputy mayor, and deputy mayor with comfortable margins, reinforcing its political dominance in the civic body.
New Leadership Takes Charge
In a significant development, 46-year-old Saurabh Joshi was elected as the mayor of Chandigarh, becoming one of the youngest individuals to hold this prestigious position in the City Beautiful. The senior deputy mayor post went to 33-year-old Jasmanpreet Singh, while 34-year-old Suman Devi, who recently switched from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to the BJP just days before the election, secured the deputy mayor position. This marks the formation of one of the youngest mayoral teams in the corporation's history.
Voting Dynamics and Party Positions
The elections took place in the 36-member House, where the BJP holds 18 seats, AAP has 11, and Congress maintains 7. The ruling party's comprehensive victory was facilitated by the absence of any pre-poll alliance between the opposition AAP and Congress. Without such a coalition, the contests became largely formalities in numerical terms, with BJP candidates advancing decisively in every round of voting.
Congress members, including city MP Manish Tewari—who serves as an ex-officio member of the House—participated only in the mayor's election before staging a walkout. They skipped the subsequent polls for senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor, despite having filed nominations for all three positions. In contrast, both AAP and BJP participated actively in all three election rounds.
Transparent Voting Process
This election marked a historic first since the Municipal Corporation's inception in 1994, as all three posts were decided through a show of hands. This method eliminated any scope for secrecy, ensuring complete transparency throughout the proceedings. Notably, no instances of cross-voting or party-switching were reported, and the entire exercise concluded in approximately one and a half hours without any procedural disputes or questions from councillors.
Deputy commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav, acting as the prescribed authority, oversaw the mayor's election. Following this, the remaining two elections were conducted under the supervision of the newly-elected mayor, Saurabh Joshi, adhering strictly to established procedures.
Election Timeline and Results
The proceedings commenced punctually at 11:00 AM, with presiding officer Dr. Ramneek Singh Bedi explaining the voting process to members. Voting for the mayor began at 11:15 AM and concluded by 11:30 AM, with results announced at 11:32 AM. The senior deputy mayor's election followed from 11:45 AM to 11:55 AM, with results declared at 11:58 AM. Finally, the deputy mayor's election took place from 12:00 PM to 12:12 PM, with the outcome announced at 12:16 PM.
In terms of voting patterns:
- Mayor Election: All 36 votes were polled, with BJP receiving 18, AAP 11, and Congress 7. No invalid votes were recorded.
- Senior Deputy Mayor Election: BJP secured 18 votes, AAP 11, while Congress members were absent. Again, no invalid votes occurred.
- Deputy Mayor Election: The pattern repeated with BJP 18, AAP 11, Congress absent, and no invalid votes.
Notable Developments and Profiles
A significant moment occurred when AAP councillor Ramchander Yadav, who had filed nomination papers as an Independent for deputy mayor, withdrew his candidacy just before the poll began. He publicly raised his hand in favor of AAP's official nominee, Jaswinder Kaur, ensuring that all 11 AAP votes went to the party's candidate.
The newly elected officials bring diverse backgrounds to their roles:
- Saurabh Joshi (Mayor): A second-time councillor from Chandigarh with an LLB qualification.
- Jasmanpreet Singh (Senior Deputy Mayor): A first-time councillor from Chandigarh holding B-Tech and LLB degrees.
- Suman Devi (Deputy Mayor): A first-time councillor originally from Jind, Haryana, who moved to Chandigarh after marriage and holds an undergraduate qualification.
Post-Election Celebrations
Following their victory, BJP supporters along with the newly elected officials organized a victory march in Sector 17. The elected office-bearers assumed charge in the presence of senior BJP leaders, including party president Jatiner Pal Malhotra and former president Sanjay Tandon. Municipal Commissioner Amit Kumar also extended congratulations and best wishes to the newly elected representatives, marking the beginning of their tenure in the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation.
