Harpreet Kaur Babla elected Chandigarh mayor after alleged cross-voting by three councillors

#ChandigarhMayor #MayorElections #BJP #HarpreetKaurBabla

Harpreet Kaur Babla elected Chandigarh mayor after alleged cross-voting by 3 councillors

Harpreet Kaur Babla elected Chandigarh mayor after alleged cross-voting by three councillors

Chandigarh: In a dramatic turn of events, BJP candidate Harpreet Kaur Babla was elected the new Chandigarh mayor after alleged cross-voting by three councillors. Babla secured 19 votes and defeated AAP candidate Prem Lata, who got 17 votes.

The mayor’s seat was to go to women this time, that too for just one year. The BJP’s chances were boosted further when senior Congress councillor Gurbaksh Rawat switched sides ahead of the election. In the 35-member House, the AAP-Congress alliance initially had 19 councillors – 13 from the AAP and six from the Congress. The votes of ex-officio member and MP Manish Tewari also swayed the alliance, taking its expected tally to 20.

The BJP, which had 16 votes, was dependent on cross-voting or defections to secure a majority. The strategy proved effective when three councillors reportedly voted in favour of Babla, tipping the balance in favour of the BJP.

Voting began at 11 am through secret ballot, allowing councillors to vote freely without party oversight. Following the results, BJP supporters went on a celebratory spree, while the AAP-Congress alliance raised concerns over the integrity of the polling process.

Reacting to her win, Harpreet Kaur Babla expressed gratitude to her party and voters. “This victory is a reflection of the trust placed in the BJP’s governance. I will work diligently for the development of Chandigarh,” she said.

Meanwhile, AAP and Congress leaders have alleged rigging and are considering taking the legal route. “We had a clear majority. This result is shocking and raises serious questions over the credibility of the election process,” an AAP leader said.

Once again, the Chandigarh mayor election has brought into focus the delicate politics of alliances, which often defy secret ballots. Well, as Babalola takes office, all eyes are on how the city’s governance will hold up amid the difficult waves of political turmoil.