Chandigarh mayoral polls today; first test for INDIA after Nitish exit

Aam Aadmi Party and Congress have teamed up to take on BJP in the Chandigarh mayoral polls that are set to take place on January 30.

Being the first election after Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's exit from the INDIA bloc, it is being seen as a major test for the Opposition alliance.

AAP's Kuldeep Kumar will fight BJP's Manoj Sonkar for the post of mayor.

The polls were originally scheduled for January 18 but were deferred after the presiding officer fell ill.

The administration's order deferring the polls had triggered protests by the Congress and the AAP councillors.

Congress has fielded candidates for senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor.

The BJP has 14 councillors in the 35-member Chandigarh Municipal Corporation. Its Chandigarh MP Kirron Kher also has voting rights as an ex-officio member.

The AAP has 13 councillors and the Congress seven. The Shiromani Akali Dal has one councillor.

(With PTI inputs)