10 MC WARDS SETTLED WITH MARGINS OF LESS THAN 100 VOTES

WHAT THEY SAY There were issues with voter lists and many names were missing. This hit the voter turnout significantly. SANJAY TALWAR, Congress dist chief We did not get the updated voter list. AAP and their admn had access to it... only 47% polling was recorded. RAJNISH DHIMAN, BJP dist chief

- Rakshit Sharma

After no party was a majority in the corporation (MC) held on Saturday, the Aam Aadmi Party, which was the largest group with 41, started to get in touch with independent candidates. In the elections, party is aware of the development, even if the party gets support from all three independent winners, they will still fall short of the majority mark of 48. This has led to speculation of political compromises and back-door deals in the MC.

Meanwhile, district Congress president and former mayor Talwar put out a social media message, claiming that the old party will elect a mayor in the city, adding to the speculation. The Congress managed just 30 seats in the elections, far short of the majority mark.

Congress chief Amarinder Raja Warring stated that the party will not align with AAP. He praised the party's performance in the state. Some key independents, including Gurbir Sibia, secured victory in ward number 1 amid the infighting within the Congress.

Meanwhile, Randhir Singh reportedly sought a Congress ticket for her, but it was denied as she is a former MLA. It was this discord that Ratanjit Singh contested as an independent.

AAP MLA Madan Lal Bagga claimed some winning candidates had approached him. He said that no one wants to join the government. To put Ludhiana on the path of development, they should align with the party.

Discussions with the high command were underway and the mayoral candidate will be announced soon.

LUDHIANA: A day after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) emerged as the single-largest group in the municipal corporation (MC) elections, the Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alleged that the party, which is in power in the state, exerted ‘undue influence’ during the polling process.