Chandigarh set for senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor elections on March 4

The Chandigarh administration has rescheduled the senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor elections to March 4, presenting a new notification before the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

The decision came during the hearing of pleas from two Congress councillors challenging the deputy commissioner's earlier notification scheduling the elections for February 27.

BJP councillors arrived at the municipal corporation office for the polls, but Congress and AAP councillors, including Mayor Kuldeep Kumar Dhalor, abstained.

Despite the Supreme Court declaring the Congress-AAP alliance candidate as mayor last week, the alliance lacks a majority in the House, holding 17 votes against the BJP's 19 out of 36 total votes.

In the court hearing, it was argued that the deputy commissioner lacked the authority to convene the election meeting, asserting that only the mayor possessed such powers.

The plea suggested following the Supreme Court's direction, issuing a fresh notification, inviting nominations again, and setting a new date for the election.