Chandigarh: After suffering a setback in the previous Chandigarh Municipal Corporation mayoral election, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has broken its alliance with the Congress. In the last election, the AAP mayoral candidate lost due to cross-voting, while the posts of senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor went to the Congress. AAP later alleged that the Congress had an understanding with the BJP behind the scenes.
The Chandigarh mayoral election is scheduled to be held again on January 29. Ahead of the polls, AAP’s Chandigarh in-charge took a swipe at the Congress by posting a photo of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge with PM Modi, hinting at a “partnership in power.” The Congress hit back in a similar tone, saying that in 2024 the mayor’s post was with AAP while the other two posts went to the BJP, asking what kind of “wrestling match” was being played then.
It is now clear that the rift between AAP and the Congress has strengthened the BJP’s chances, not only for the mayor’s post but also for the senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor positions. This time, voting will be done by show of hands, ruling out the possibility of secret cross-voting.
Sources said AAP’s decision to break the alliance was influenced by four major factors, including the Mohali municipal corporation elections and the upcoming Punjab elections.
