BJP’s Saurabh Joshi elected Chandigarh Mayor after a three-cornered contest. BJP also wins Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor posts in MC polls.
The Municipal Corporation has 35 elected councillors, and the Chandigarh Member of Parliament is also entitled to vote, taking the total electorate to 36. (Photo: Facebook/Saurabh Joshi)
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday tightened its grip over the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh as its councillor Saurabh Joshi was elected the new Mayor, emerging victorious in a high-stakes three-cornered contest involving the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress. The election marked the first time since 2022 that all three parties contested the mayoral post independently, adding political significance to the outcome.
Saurabh Joshi secured 18 votes in the 36-member House, enough to edge past the halfway mark and claim the mayor’s chair. AAP’s mayoral candidate Yogesh Dhingra received 11 votes, while Congress nominee Gurpreet Singh Gabi managed seven votes. The results were announced immediately after voting concluded, formally ushering Joshi into office.
The Municipal Corporation has 35 elected councillors, and the Chandigarh Member of Parliament is also entitled to vote, taking the total electorate to 36. A candidate needed 19 votes to win, but Joshi crossed the line with support beyond the BJP’s own numerical strength of 18 councillors.
Saurabh Joshi is a senior councillor of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and has now been elected as the Mayor of Chandigarh. Known for his organisational work within the party, Joshi has been actively involved in municipal affairs and local governance. He represents the BJP in the Municipal Corporation and has focused on civic issues such as sanitation, road infrastructure, and public services.
His election as Mayor reflects the BJP’s numerical strength in the House and its strategy to consolidate leadership at the civic level.
The BJP continued its winning run in the election for Senior Deputy Mayor, with councillor Jasmanpreet Singh securing 18 votes. AAP candidate Munawar Khan received 11 votes, while Congress nominee Sachin Galav failed to open his account.
Congress councillors, along with Chandigarh MP Manish Tewari, were absent during the Senior Deputy Mayor election. After casting their votes in favour of their mayoral candidate earlier, Congress members walked out of the House, effectively abstaining from the remaining polls.
When newly elected Mayor Saurabh Joshi called out Sachin Galav’s name during voting, officials noted that he was not present in the House.
Jasmanpreet Singh is a BJP councillor who has been elected as the Senior Deputy Mayor of Chandigarh after securing a majority in the Municipal Corporation election. He has previously worked on ward-level development and civic administration.
Singh is considered a party loyalist and is expected to play a key role in coordinating between the Mayor’s office and the Municipal Corporation. His elevation strengthens the BJP’s hold over the city’s civic governance.
In the election for Deputy Mayor, BJP councillor Suman Sharma emerged victorious with 18 votes, mirroring the party’s tally in the earlier rounds. AAP councillor Jaswinder Kaur received 11 votes.
AAP councillor Ramchandra Yadav, who had filed his nomination as an Independent candidate, withdrew from the contest moments before voting began. The withdrawal came after Mayor Saurabh Joshi invited candidates to announce any withdrawals before the start of the election process.
Congress candidate Nirmala Devi received no votes, as Congress councillors continued to abstain during the deputy mayoral election.
Suman Sharma, a BJP councillor, has been elected as the Deputy Mayor of Chandigarh. She has been associated with municipal work and local issues, including community welfare and urban services. Sharma’s victory completes the BJP’s clean sweep of the top three posts in the Municipal Corporation. As Deputy Mayor, she is expected to assist in administrative decision-making and implementation of civic policies.
The Congress decision to stay away from the Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor elections played a decisive role in allowing the BJP to secure all three top civic posts. With six councillors in the House, Congress lacked the numbers to challenge the BJP directly but could have influenced the outcome through tactical participation.
However, the party’s walkout ensured a smoother path for the BJP and limited the AAP’s chances of upsetting the ruling party’s calculations.
With Saurabh Joshi as Mayor, Jasmanpreet Singh as Senior Deputy Mayor, and Suman Sharma as Deputy Mayor, the BJP now holds full control over Chandigarh’s top municipal leadership. The party is expected to push forward its urban development agenda with fewer political hurdles inside the Corporation.
The outcome also sets the tone for future political contests in the city, as civic performance under the new leadership will likely shape voter sentiment in the months ahead.
