Times News NetworkChandigarh: AAP, BJP and Congress issued sharply contrasting statements on Thursday following the Chandigarh mayoral elections, with AAP alleging “conspiracy and manipulation,” BJP terming the result an endorsement of development, and Congress calling its participation a “symbolic and principled battle.“
AAP’s Charge: ‘Conspiracy, Con Support’AAP Delhi MLA and Chandigarh in-charge Jarnail Singh said the mayoral elections in Chandigarh were once again conducted in a manner that enabled the BJP to “impose its mayor with the open support of the Congress.” He said this “exposed the BJP’s hunger for power,” alleging the party did not hesitate to align with “so-called rival parties” to remain in control.Citing examples from elsewhere, he referred to Maharashtra’s Ambernath Corporation, alleging an “open alliance” between BJP and Congress to defeat Shiv Sena. He also reminded that in the 2021 Chandigarh MC polls, the Aam Aadmi Party had emerged as the single largest party, yet, he claimed, the BJP “repeatedly disrespected the public mandate through conspiracies.” He accused Congress of “betrayal,” saying whenever BJP needed support, the Congress “openly came forward to help.“Questioning the public benefit of what he termed a “mayor imposed through manipulation,” Jarnail Singh took a dig at BJP’s promises on 24×7 water supply, sanitation, waste management, and cow shelters. He alleged sanitation in Chandigarh was “in a pathetic state,” claimed garbage was being dumped in Punjab and Haryana dumping grounds, and said the condition of gaushalas was “worse than slaughterhouses.” Despite “double and triple-engine governments,” he added, common people “gained nothing.“BJP’s stand: Mandate for devp Following what he termed a “landmark victory,” BJP National general secretary Vinod Tawde, who oversaw the mayoral election as central in-charge, said the outcome was more than an electoral success and amounted to a “clear endorsement by the people for Chandigarh’s progressive and development-oriented future.”He announced the formation of a C7 Committee to ensure planned and coordinated development of Chandigarh. The committee will include the mayor, senior deputy mayor, deputy mayor and three BJP councillors. It will function under the leadership of state president Jitendra Pal Malhotra with the stated focus of implementing development works and executing “constructive suggestions” in the larger interest of the city.Celebrations were held at the BJP state office in Sector 33 (Kamalam), where workers marked the victory with dhol, laddoos and firecrackers. Party workers congratulated one another as the office echoed with “excitement, enthusiasm and victory.” The party said its objective was “not power, but service,” and pledged that the entire team would work unitedly to make Chandigarh a clean, safe, smart and progressive city.Cong position: Principled contest H S Lucky, president, Chandigarh Pradesh Congress Committee, said the party was fully aware it did not have the numbers in the mayoral election, but chose to fight a symbolic and principled battle against the BJP. He said Congress appealed to all councillors to vote according to conscience and in the larger interest of Chandigarh, keeping in mind the city’s long-term welfare.Recalling the Congress tenure, he said Chandigarh consistently secured the No. 1 position in national rankings, and the MC held fixed deposits exceeding Rs 500 crore, citing this as evidence of strong financial management and robust development. He contrasted this with the last nine years, alleging a “complete reversal,” with broken roads, an acute fund shortage in the MC, and an absence of new development projects. He said the 24×7 water supply project “failed entirely,” and overall civic conditions had “deteriorated from bad to worse.”
