Chandigarh: The mayoral polls for Chandigarh – deferred earlier today amid much drama – will now be held on February 6 – the Union Territory's Deputy Commissioner has said. "This decision follows a thorough assessment of the security and law and order situation by the Senior Superintendent of Police, UT, Chandigarh," read a statement from the Commissioner's office.
"Vinay Pratap Singh, Deputy Commissioner, Chandigarh, in the capacity of Prescribed Authority, has nominated Sh. Anil Masih, Councilor, as the Presiding Authority for this significant meeting. Sh. Anil Masih, Councilor, will preside over the meeting to elect the Mayor, adhering to the established regulations and procedures,' the statement read.
The election for which Aam Aadmi Party and the Congress had teamed up, was deferred after the presiding officer fell sick. Both AAP and the Congress alleged that the BJP, anticipating defeat, had scuttled it.
AAP's Raghav Chadha said the INDIA bloc had 20 of the 36 votes in its favour and accused the BJP of being a bad loser.
"First, the Secretary of Elections falls sick, and now, the Presiding Officer has also fallen sick. All this to adjourn the election," he said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
"BJP is like a disgruntled child who, upon being called out in gully cricket, takes away the bat and declares an end to the game,' he added,
questioning why elections have to be deferred if the BJP is losing.
AAP is contesting for the mayor post and the Congress for the posts of the senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor. The parties claimed they were the first of the block in the Opposition INDIA grouping and their combined strength had caused the BJP to blink.