BJP Beats AAP-Cong in Chandigarh Mayor Poll

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday won the high-stakes election for the post of Chandigarh Municipal Corporation (CMC) mayor while the AAP-backed Congress candidates secured the senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor posts, in a setback to the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) partners.

- Mandeep Kaur Narula

CHANDIGARH: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday won the high-stakes election for the post of Chandigarh Municipal Corporation (CMC) mayor while the AAP-backed Congress candidates secured the senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor posts, in a setback to the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) partners.

The BJP's Harpreet Kaur Babla won the post of mayor by securing 19 votes in the 35-member House, while AAP candidate Prem Lata secured 17 votes. The INDIA bloc had 20 votes—13 from AAP, six from Congress and MP Manish Tewari's ex-officio vote. However, three cross-votes from within the alliance helped Babla secure 19 votes against Lata's 17. From the total 36 votes, the party requires 19 votes to secure the victory.