Blow to Mahagathbandhan, BJP wins Chandigarh mayoral polls

The first round of polling for the Chandigarh municipal corporation has concluded with BJP councillor Manoj Sonkar securing victory as the new mayor. The event took a controversial turn as Congress and AAP councillors walked out in protest during the second round of polling for the senior deputy and deputy mayor positions.

In the 35-member municipal corporation house, the AAP and the Congress together have 20 votes, while the BJP, which has been ruling the MC for eight years, has 15 votes — 14 of councillors and one of MP Kirron Kher. The magic number is 19.

Originally scheduled for January 18, the polls faced a delay just before councillors could cast their votes due to the poor health of presiding officer Anil Masih. This led to accusations from the Aam Aadmi Party and Congress, alleging BJP's orchestration of the situation. 

The mayoral elections are noteworthy as the first trial for the INDIA bloc against BJP ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls later this year.

Initially set for February 6, the deputy commissioner adjusted the poll date to January 30 following the Punjab and Haryana high court's directive to the UT administration to conduct the elections on an earlier date.