Chandigarh, Jan 29 (PTI) BJP councillor Saurabh Joshi was elected the new mayor of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation on Thursday as the party swept the mayoral polls by also securing the posts of senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor.
In a three-cornered contest for the post of mayor of the Chandigarh civic body, BJP nominee Joshi secured 18 votes against 11 for Aam Aadmi Party’s Yogesh Dhingra and seven for Congress’ Gurpreet Singh Gabi.
The Congress and AAP did not forge an alliance for the mayoral polls this time. After the results were declared, a war of words erupted between AAP and the Congress, with their leaders accusing each other of “helping” the BJP.
The mayoral polls were conducted by a show of hands instead of the previous practice of a secret ballot. After raising their hands, councillors also gave their verbal confirmation before the presiding officer.
Ramneek Singh Bedi, a nominated councillor, conducted the election for the post of mayor.
After being elected the mayor, Joshi recalled his long association with the BJP and dedicated his victory to the party leadership and to the party workers.
In the 35-member House of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation, the BJP has 18 councillors, the AAP has 11, and the Congress has six. The Chandigarh MP also has a voting right as an ex officio member of the municipal corporation.
Sitting MP Manish Tewari of the Congress raised his hand in support of his party’s nominee Gabi.
After BJP’s Joshi (46) was declared the new mayor of Chandigarh, he conducted the elections for the posts of senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor. The Congress abstained from voting in this election.
After voting for the mayor’s post, all six Congress councillors and party MP Tewari left the House.
BJP nominee for senior deputy mayor Jasmanpreet Singh defeated AAP councillor Manuar Khan, while BJP’s Suman Sharma won the post of deputy mayor by defeating AAP nominee Jaswinder Kaur.
Before the election for the post of deputy mayor, AAP councillor Ramchandra Yadav, who had filed his nomination as an independent, withdrew his candidature.
Meanwhile, AAP’s Chandigarh in-charge Jarnail Singh alleged that the Congress “once again gave its full and unwavering support to the BJP”.
“The people of Chandigarh will surely take revenge for this betrayal and will elect the Aam Aadmi Party in upcoming election with a full majority…,” Singh said in a post on X.
Elections for the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation are due in December this year.
Chandigarh Congress president H S Lucky hit back at AAP leader Singh.
Lucky referred to a Singh’s earlier post dated January 6 in which he had accused the Congress and the BJP of being hand-in-glove and had said their “shadowboxing” has now been understood by the country.
In a post on X on Thursday, Lucky said, “@JarnailSinghAAP Ji, I do not want to get into a He said – She said, however after this post of yours below dated 6th Jan 2026. Do you think an alliance or understanding was possible? You are squarely responsible for demolishing INC-AAP understanding in Chandigarh. Who is the BJP mole here? I leave it to the good sense of people of Chandigarh.” Later, Lucky said in a statement that although the Congress party was fully aware that it did not have the required numbers in mayoral election, the party chose to fight a symbolic and principled battle against the BJP.
He said that the Congress had appealed to all councillors to vote according to their conscience and in the larger interest of Chandigarh, keeping in mind the city’s long-term welfare.
He further said Congress party’s primary objective remains the municipal corporation elections for which the party is preparing with full commitment.
Meanwhile, the newly elected Mayor Saurabh Joshi recalled his long association with the BJP since his youth days.
While speaking in the House, Joshi broke down in tears while recalling how his late father Jairam Joshi, who remained president of Chandigarh BJP in 1990s, always taught him never to be deterred from the goal of serving people and keep going even when circumstances in life are odd.
He (Jairam Joshi) always cared for the deprived and the poor, and considered them as his family, recalled Saurabh Joshi as he carried a photo of his late father in his hand after being elected as mayor.
Meanwhile, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini expressed his happiness on the BJP winning all the three posts.
“Heartiest congratulations to all the party workers on the spectacular victory and historic clean sweep by the Bharatiya Janata Party in Chandigarh,” he said in a post on X.
Saini said the victory of the three BJP candidates has reaffirmed the party’s organizational strength, capable leadership, and the trust of the people.
“This achievement is a powerful testament to the visionary and inspiring leadership of Honorable Prime Minister Shri @NarendraModi and the Bharatiya Janata Party’s consistent record of excellent public service and good governance,” he said. PTI SUN CHS KVK KVK
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