Mayoral election date: Poonam Sharma for Jan 1, Kirron Kher favours Jan 5 or 6

Talking to Chandigarh Newsline, Kher said, “No, why should the polls be conducted on January 1? Congress is trying to act smart. Let people enjoy their New Year day.”

She added, “Rather we had asked the Congress to have the polls 10 days before so that people can have good Christmas and New Year holidays but Congress refused by saying why they should leave the chair 10 days before. Mayor elections will be held on nearly the same date as last year, that is January 5 or 6.”

However, Sharma said, “Last year, the MP was new and she was to attend the polls for the first time. So the date was adjusted according to her personal engagements. This time, we are in favour of polls being held on January 1, and I don’t think the MP will have any personal engagements this time too.”

She added, “If the polls are held on January 6, the term of the next mayor, senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor will be six days short as the term of present councillors will expire on December 31, 2015.”

Joint Commissioner Rajiv Gupta has also written to the Deputy Commissioner, requesting him to finalise the date soon.