Now, Chandigarh BJP moves its councillors to Shimla

Dushyant Singh Pundir

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 5

In a bid to keep its flock together amid fear of poaching by rival parties ahead of the mayoral poll on Saturday, the BJP today shifted its newly elected councillors to Shimla.

Chandigarh BJP president Arun Sood alleged that senior functionaries of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had, in an internal meeting, told its councillors that they had bought three BJP councillors for Rs2 crore each to shift loyalties in the mayoral poll, scheduled for January 8.

To give a strong message to AAP that they were united, all 12 BJP councillors, along with their families, had reached Shimla yesterday and would be returning soon, he added. The councillors are staying at the state guest house, Willy’s Park, in Shimla. Reacting to the allegations, Chandigarh AAP convener Prem Garg said instead of making allegations, the BJP should name the councillors who had taken money from them to switch sides.

After the announcement of the mayoral elections, the Congress took its councillors to Jaipur and AAP to Delhi over fear of being ‘lured’ by the opposition.

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 councillors today went to Ajmer Sharif Dargah.

Meanwhile, Garg said their councillors had returned from Delhi and were in Chandigarh. He, however, said instead of abstaining, the Congress should support AAP which could ensure overall development of the city.

On the decision of the Congress not to field any candidate for the mayoral poll and to abstain from voting on January 8, Garg said, “It is illegal and immoral on the part of the Congress to abstain from the election on January 8 because voting is a fundamental right of every citizen.”

Elections to the post of Mayor, Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor are scheduled for January 8 and this time, the contest is between the BJP and AAP.

In the 35-member House of the Municipal Corporation, AAP has 14 seats, the Congress has seven seats. The BJP has 14 seats, including one vote of the MP and another of Harpreet Kaur Babla, wife of former Congress leader Devinder Singh Babla. Nineteen votes are needed to secure a majority in the House.

Saffron party’s allegation

Chandigarh BJP president Arun Sood alleged that senior functionaries of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had, in an internal meeting, told their councillors that they had bought three BJP councillors for Rs2 crore each to shift loyalties in the mayoral poll, scheduled for January 8.