BJP-backed Manoj elected Manali MC chief, Cong-supported Sunita his deputy
The BJP-supported councillor Manoj Kumar has been elected Chairman of the Manali Municipal Council in Kullu district, while the Congress-supported Sunita Sharma has been elected Vice-chairman by a unanimous decision.
Despite the backing of Manali MLA Bhuvneshwar Gaur, the Congress was unable to secure the post of the Chairman. The BJP’s Manoj Kumar triumphed after a tie in votes with Congress’ Naveen Tanwar, with the decision ultimately made by drawing a slip of paper, which favoured Manoj.
The political drama, which had been ongoing for over two and a half months, saw a resolution with today’s elections.
Manoj Kumar had brought a no-confidence motion against previous chairman Chaman Kapoor in September, and had even resigned from the vice-chairman’s post in October. In the election for the chairman’s post, both Manoj Kumar and Naveen Tanwar received four votes each, leading to the final decision through a draw.
In his address following the election, Manoj Kumar emphasised his commitment to fulfilling the development needs of the residents of Manali. He vowed to continue prioritising infrastructure, cleanliness and addressing the city’s challenges, ensuring equal development across all seven wards of Manali MC.
Manali MLA Bhuvneshwar Gaur congratulated the newly elected Chairman and Vice-chairman and expressed confidence that they would help further strengthen the town’s growth.
