BJP has held the mayor’s post for the past eight years. (Representational Image: Reuters)
Security has been tightened in the city amid the mayoral polls along with a three-layer barricade around the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation
The Chandigarh mayoral election are set to take place today in what will be the first battle between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the opposition’s INDIA bloc before the Lok Sabha elections. The saffron party is pitted against the alliance of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress.
Security has been tightened in the city amid the mayoral polls along with a three-layer barricade around the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation.
HEAVY SECURITY
Around 800 police personnel, along with those from the paramilitary forces are set to be deployed during the polling process.
The high court directed the Chandigarh police to ensure the councillors’ security as well.
Additionally, it asked the police to ensure that no ruckus or untoward incident takes place on or around the premises of the civic body during or after the mayoral election.
WHY IS IT SIGNIFICANT?
The mayoral poll in Chandigarh holds a certain importance as the INDIA bloc members, Congress and AAP, have joined hands to contest this election against the BJP.
As an alliance, AAP is contesting for the mayor’s position while Congress candidates are running for senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor post.
Notably, the saffron party has held the mayor’s post for the past eight years. The party has 14 councillors in the 35-member Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh.
BJP’s Chandigarh MP Kirron Kher, as an ex-officio member, also has voting rights in the polls.
The Kejriwal-led party has 13 councillors while Congress has seven and the Shiromani Akali Dal has one councillor.
(With PTI inputs)
