Chandigarh mayoral polls: AAP to contest mayor post, Congress settles for deputy mayor

After hectic parleys, Congress and AAP, part of the INDIA bloc, have decided that the latter would field its candidate for the post of mayor in the Chandigarh mayoral polls. The Congress will field its candidates for the posts of senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor, senior Congress leader Pawan Bansal announced on Monday, PTI reported.

AAP and Congress announced their respective candidates for the mayoral elections in Chandigarh after the parties had failed to decide their seat-sharing equation last month.

“We have managed to reach a consensus on the Chandigarh mayoral polls. AAP has more MLAs here and thus, we have decided to let them contest the mayor post. Chandigarh has laid a template for future talks on seat-sharing between AAP and Congress,” Bansal said.

The elections for the posts of mayor, senior deputy mayor, and deputy mayor will be held on January 18. The elections are important as they will give an inkling about the prospects of the INDIA bloc and BJP ahead of the crucial 2024 Lok Sabha election.