Municipal poll: BJP, Congress set for another big fight in Feb

The ruling BJP and the Congress are bracing up for another battle early next year, with the elections to the eight municipal corporations, four municipal councils and 22 municipal committee set to be held in February.

With the State Election Commission (SEC) fixing January 6 as the date for the final publication of the electoral rolls, the stage is for another poll battle between the traditional rivals, besides other parties.

Buoyed by its historic hat trick in the October 5 Assembly poll, the BJP has already announced to fight the MC poll on the party symbol. The Congress, which traditionally fights the municipal corporation elections on its party symbol, is yet to take a call.

Mohan Lal Badoli, BJP chief, said the saffron party was already in election mode as its membership drive was in progress. "We started preparing for the MC poll immediately after the Assembly poll. It would be a triple-engine government as the BJP is in mission mode to fight and win the upcoming municipal elections,” he stated.

Congress sources said while it was certain that the party would fight elections to the eight municipal corporations on its party symbol, the decision to fight other poll on the party symbol would be taken in due course.

The AAP has also announced to contest the MC poll on its party symbol.

Meanwhile, the SEC has fixed December 17 as the tentative date for electoral rolls. Objections and claims, which can be filed by December 23, will be disposed of by December 27 — preparing the ground for the final publication of the rolls on January 6.

Elections to the MCs of Gurugram, Faridabad, Hisar, Karnal, Rohtak, Panipat and Yamunanagar were overdue, while the election to the Manesar MC will be held for the first time. Among the municipal councils going to the polls are Ambala Cantt, Pataudi Mandi, Thanesar and Sirsa.

Barara, Bawani Khera, Loharu, Siwani, Farrukhnagar, Jakhal Mandi, Narnaund, Beri, Julana, Kalayat, Pundri, Indri, Nilokheri, Ateli Mandi, Kanina, Taurau, Hathin, Kalanaur, Kalianwali, Kharkhouda, Radaur and Adampur are the municipal committees to which the elections are to be held.

Notification after Jan 6

• BJP to fight MC poll on party symbol

• Congress yet to decide on symbol

• AAP to contest on party symbol

• January 6 fixed for final publication of electoral rolls

• MC poll to be notified after final publication of electoral rolls