Panchkula MC poll today: Advantage BJP as three councillors join party
The BJP has the edge in the elections to the posts of Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor with three councillors joining the party in the presence of Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini today. The elections will be held tomorrow.
Sunit Singla, who had quit the BJP to join the Congress before the Assembly poll, returned to the saffron party. Independent councillor Omvati Punia, who had supported Congress candidate Chander Mohan in the Assembly elections, and Jannayak Janata Party’s (JJP) Sushil Garg also joined the BJP.
Now, the BJP is again in majority in the 21-member MC House with 12 votes.
The elections to the two posts had been delayed for nearly four years due to conflicts among councillors.
Though the BJP was in majority at the time of formation of House in 2020, two councillors, Sunit Singla and Paramjit Kaur, had joined the Congress just before the Assembly elections this year. Initially, Independent councillor Omvati Punia had also extended her support to the Congress candidate in the elections. Though the Congress candidate Chander Mohan won from the constituency, the BJP again came to power in the state.
Omvati Punia confirmed she had joined the BJP. She said, “The Congress had only given assurances but the BJP will carry out development in the region. I have joined the BJP for a proper development of the whole city.”
She had been approached by Congress leaders for support during the Assembly elections. “I have remained an Independent councillor and had only lent my support to the Congress candidate during the Assembly polls,” she said.
Till Saturday evening, the Congress had the majority in the MC House with nine councillors along with the support of Independent Councillor Omvati Punia. The JJP had two councillors and the BJP eight. Now that Singla, Punia and Garg have joined the saffron party, its vote count, including that of the Mayor, has increased to 12. The Congress has been reduced to eight councillors and the JJP one. The present situation indicates another victory for the lotus.
Garg said, “The BJP is an old party. I have joined the party to ensure that the various public projects and works are completed at the earliest.”
Both Punia and Garg said only the party’s senior leadership would decide who would contest the elections to the posts of Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor.
Game-changing move
Till Saturday evening, the Congress had the majority in the MC House with nine councillors along with the support of Independent Councillor Omvati Punia. The JJP had two councillors and the BJP eight. Now that Singla, Punia and Garg have joined the saffron party, its vote count, including that of the Mayor, has increased to 12. The Congress has been reduced to eight councillors and the JJP one.
