Prestige battle for BJP, Congress in Dharamshala mayoral elections today, cross-voting can tilt scales in anyone’s favour
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DHARAMSHALA: The Municipal Corporation of smart city Dharamshala, recognised as the second capital of Himachal Pradesh, is all set to welcome a new woman Mayor on Saturday (December 2, 2023).
From the BJP, which was ruling the civic body earlier, law graduate Monica Pathania, retired education department official Santosh Sharma and senior councillor Tajendra Kaur are the frontrunners for the posts of Mayor and Deputy Mayor. The BJP had gathered its councillors at Hotel D’Polo in Dharamshala on Friday evening. Outgoing Deputy Mayor Sarv Chand Galotia, an Independent councillor whom the BJP had supported for the second-top post, abstained from attending the meeting.
The Congress is considering betting on senior women councillors Savita Karki and Neenu Sharma as potential candidates for the two posts. Former Mayor Rajni Vyas, a Congress councillor, too is in the race, which makes the situation complex for the party ruling the state.
Despite plans by the Congress to finalise names on Friday, uncertainty from the high command has postponed the decision to the last moment. There is also a possibility of cross-voting, which may tilt the scales in anyone’s favour.
Outgoing Mayor Omkar Nehriya and former Mayor Devendra Jaggi emerged together from the Mayor’s office following deliberations, triggering speculations. In the 17-member Municipal Corporation, the BJP has eight councillors, Congress five while four are Independent. Local MLA Sudhir Sharma too has the voting rights.
