Congress takes Chandigarh councillors to Jaipur, AAP to Delhi

Sandeep Rana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 3

For fear of councillors switching sides before the mayoral poll, the Congress has taken its councillors to a resort in Jaipur, while AAP has taken its councillors to Delhi.

The Congress claimed that it had taken its councillors for a “religious tour”, while AAP said it had taken its elected leaders for a “training programme”. The Congress leaders were taken in Innova cars, while AAP leaders went by a private bus.

They have gone along with their family members and respective party presidents.

City Congress president Subhash Chawla told Chandigarh Tribune, “There was a lot of tension as councillors were being approached for switching sides. We are on a religious trip. We are staying in a resort in Jaipur and tomorrow we will go to Ajmer Sharif Dargah.”

On the other hand, AAP city chief Prem Garg said, “Our councillors will have a training session as they are not experienced. They will be shown the Vidhan Sabha session work and will be taught about tabling of agenda items and functioning of the House. They will also meet ministers. Day after tomorrow, they may have a meeting with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.” They are putting up at a hotel.

City BJP president Arun Sood said, “We don’t need to move our councillors anywhere as they are ideologically strong with the party. The two parties have fear as their councillors are impressed by our appeal of development. Their leaders want a stable and strong administration in the MC, which only the BJP can provide.” The mayoral poll is heading for an interesting contest as none of the parties has got a majority. With Congress councillor Harpreet Kaur Babla joining the BJP, both the BJP and AAP have 14 votes, while the Congress is left with only seven. The SAD cannot contest as its only councillor is male, while the Mayor’s seat in the first year is reserved for a woman.

There were talks that two councillors from the Congress and two to three from AAP may join the BJP.

Cong terms it religious tour, AAP training

The Congress claimed that it had taken its councillors for a “religious tour”, while AAP said it had taken its elected leaders for a “training programme”. The Congress leaders were taken in Innova cars, while AAP leaders went by a private bus.

We don’t need to move our councillors anywhere as they are ideologically strong with the party. — Arun Sood, city BJP president