Chandigarh, Jan 22: The arithmetic of the municipal house has transformed the upcoming January 29 mayoral election into a high-stakes encounter, with the ruling BJP and the opposition now holding equal strength. The balance shifted after AAP councilors Suman Sharma and Poonam switched sides to join the BJP, bringing the ruling party’s total to 18 votes, including the vote cast by the Member of Parliament.
Winning the mayor’s seat requires 19 votes. Currently, the AAP holds 11 seats while the Congress maintains six, totaling 17 votes between the two opposition parties. This parity ensures that any potential alliance between AAP and Congress would create an 18-18 tie, making every single vote critical to the outcome.
A major procedural change will also define this year’s contest, as the election is set to be conducted via a show of hands. In previous years, the use of a secret ballot allowed for cross-voting, which often decided the winner in narrow races. The transition to a transparent voting method is expected to strictly align councilors with their respective party mandates.
Regarding the shift in numbers, a senior official noted that the current composition of the house makes this one of the most unpredictable elections in recent history. As parties prepare for the show of hands, the focus remains on whether an opposition alliance can successfully bridge the gap to challenge the BJP’s current standing.
