Cong bags all 3 mayoral posts

In the 36-member House,there are 26 elected councillors,nine nominated councillors and one vote is of the local MP. Among the 26 elected councillors there are 12 from BJP-SAD alliance,11 from Congress,two of the BSP and one independent. The final vote count for the Mayor’s election shows that both the BJP and the BSP could manage votes only of their own parties.

Amidst accepting best wishes of the councillors and thumping of desks,Malik took over the Mayor’s chair. She then presided over the election of the senior deputy Mayor and deputy Mayor.

Congress candidate Darshan Garg was elected senior deputy Mayor. He polled 23 votes against Des Raj Gupta of the BJP-SAD polled 13 votes. Meanwhile for the post of deputy Mayor Satish Kainth emerged victorious by polling 23 votes against 13 votes polled by BJP-SAD candidate Malkit Singh.

The election of the Mayor was presided over by nominated councillor Babu Lal. Prior to starting of the process BJP councillor Arun Sood raised objections to the voting area being covered by a wooden partition and then a white sheet of cloth thrown over the partition. The sheet was thereafter removed,but the partition remained.

During the last elections,the issue of using mobile phones had created a ruckus in the House. This time,the BJP raised the issue prior to the election. It was demanded that all the councillors be asked not to take mobile phones along with them for voting in order to maintain secrecy of ballot. Union Minister Pawan Bansal said that the provision of carrying mobile phones could be added to the Municipal Act.

The nominated councillors had interviewed the candidates of the BJP and the Congress over the past two days.