BJP’s Harpreet Kaur Babla Elected Chandigarh Mayor, INDIA Bloc Defeated

Aakhir Tak – In Shorts

• Harpreet Kaur Babla won the Chandigarh mayoral election with 19 votes.
• The BJP’s victory dealt a blow to the AAP-Congress alliance, which had expected to win.
• Three opposition councillors cross-voted in favor of the BJP, altering the outcome.
• Congress councillor Gurbax Rawat had already defected to the BJP before the election.
• Attention now shifts to the election of senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor.

Aakhir Tak – In Depth

BJP’s Victory Shakes the Opposition Bloc

In a dramatic political shift, Harpreet Kaur Babla of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won the Chandigarh mayoral election by securing 19 votes in the 36-member municipal corporation. This victory came as a shock to the AAP-Congress alliance, which originally had a majority.

How Did BJP Turn the Tables?

The BJP had only 16 councillors, whereas the AAP-Congress alliance had 19. They expected an additional vote from MP Manish Tewari, bringing their total to 20. However, three councillors cross-voted for the BJP, reducing the alliance’s count and giving BJP the majority.

Defections and Strategic Moves

Ahead of the election, Congress councillor Gurbax Rawat joined the BJP, signaling internal rifts within the opposition. To prevent further defections, the alliance moved its councillors to a hotel in Ropar, Punjab. Despite these efforts, three members voted against their own candidate, handing BJP the victory.

Supreme Court Oversight on Election Process

This high-stakes election was conducted under the supervision of former Punjab and Haryana High Court judge Jaishree Thakur, who was appointed as an independent observer by the Supreme Court. The entire election process was recorded on camera to ensure transparency.

What’s Next?

With the mayoral election concluded, attention now shifts to the senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor elections. As the newly elected mayor, Harpreet Kaur Babla will preside over these upcoming polls.

Aakhir Tak – Key Takeaways to Remember

• BJP’s Harpreet Kaur Babla is the new Chandigarh Mayor.
• Three opposition councillors cross-voted, securing BJP’s victory.
• The election was monitored by a Supreme Court-appointed observer.
• The focus now shifts to the deputy mayor elections.

Aakhir Tak Editor-in-Chief

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