Shimla, June 20: Even as both the ruling Congress and BJP have kept their cards close to their chest for the posts of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor, but both parties face rebellion from councilors mainly for the post of Deputy Mayor as Shailender Chauhan, Sanjay Thakur, Vijay Parmar, Congress rebel now with BJP, Rakesh Sharma, a BJP rebel are in race for post of Deputy Mayor as parties have failed to arrive at a consensus on this post.
Two BJP-backed scheduled caste women councilors – Satya Kaundal, who won from one Sanjauli Chowk seat, and Kusum Sadret, who won the Annnadale reserved seat, are in race for the post of Mayor as far as BJP- backed councilors are concerned. The party can sort out the Mayoral choice as it is reserved for the SC category of women, but main problem is consensus on Deputy Mayor’s post, revealed the insiders.
The Congress is also sailing in the same boat. The Congress may field BJP rebel or its independent councilor Rachna from Vikas Nagar, for the deputy mayor’s post taking advantage of the “faction ridden councilors” as they were elected on non-party symbols.Both BJP and Congress cannot ignore the women councilors because this 34-member House has 20 women councilors.
Senior BJP leader Suresh Bhardwaj and his rival former horticulture minister Narender Bragta and Ganesh Dutt, BJP spokesperson, are throwing their might behind their own candidates and there is no consensus on deputy Mayor post so far, revealed insiders. According to BJP insiders, the party has kept Mayor and Deputy Mayor candidates a top secret and would be revealed before they proceed for the House session tomorrow.The Congress sources said that the party was in touch with the BJP-backed rebels and hope to forge a division among the councilors.
Source Tribune India
