Shimla Municipal Corporation Office shifted out of Town Hall, newly elected deputy mayor refuses to take charge

Earlier in the day, Surinder Chauhan and Kaushal were unanimously elected as the mayor and deputy mayor of the SMC, respectively days after the Congress wrested the civic body from the BJP.

The decision to shift the office of the deputy mayor was taken about two weeks ago to create more space for the Municipal Corporation House, officials said.

In a statement, CPI(M) leader and former mayor Sanjay Chauhan said offices of the mayor and deputy mayor were housed in the Town Hall building since the British times and that the state government should immediately shift back the office of the deputy mayor.

The mayoral election was marred by a scuffle between supporters of the councillors and media persons after the former allegedly hurled abusive words and manhandled media due to lack of space at Bachat Bhawan. The media alleged that the police sided with the supporters of the councilors and shielded them.

When contacted, Superintendent Police Shimla, Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi said the media persons have lodged their protest with the police and an enquiry has been ordered in the matter. The mayor and the deputy mayor were selected after the newly-elected councillors took oath at Bachat Bhawan here.

Chauhan, a close confidant of Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, is a three-time councillor from Chhota Shimla ward. Kaushal is also a three-time councillor from Tutikandi ward, while her husband and brother-in-law have been elected twice from the seat.

Of the 34 seats in the SMC, 21 are held by women, and many demanded that one of the top posts must be held by a woman.