Chandigarh: BJP-SAD alliance announces Hardeep Singh as deputy mayor nominee

SAD coucillor Hardeep Singh, the candidate for deputy mayor, at a press conference at Kamlam in Sector 33, Chandigarh, on Sunday. (Express Photo)

After a series of discussions, the BJP-SAD alliance on Sunday evening announced SAD councillor Hardeep Singh as their candidate for the post of deputy mayor.

On Saturday, the BJP had declared the candidates for the posts of mayor and senior deputy mayor but due to the infighting within the party, it failed to declare its deputy mayor nominee. The announcement of BJP councillor Davesh Moudgil as their senior deputy mayor nominee left senior leaders like Sat Prakash Aggarwal and Rajinder Rattu disappointed as they were the front-runners for this post. Also, councillors Desraj Gupta and Saurabh Joshi refused to contest for the post of deputy mayor when it was offered to them.  However, the SAD is said to have spoken to BJP leaders to fulfil their promise by giving one of the three seats to them.

Also, since the name of Arun Sood for the mayor’s post was opposed by many BJP councillors, senior leaders are making all efforts to stop cross-voting within the party. Sood is said to have the backing of city BJP chief Sanjay Tandon. Detractors of Tandon in the party have decided not to support Sood.
Despite the fact that their candidates are almost finalised, the Congress kept everybody waiting for its official announcement. Later, in the evening, city Congress president Pradeep Chhabra said that the Congress would announce their candidates few minutes before filing nominations on Monday.

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Sources said that the Congress was waiting for a BJP councillor who was expected to defect before the elections due to the rift within the BJP.

The mayoral polls are scheduled to be held on January 8.