Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday released its first list of candidates for the upcoming Chandigarh Municipal Corporation elections, announcing nominees for nine of the city's 35 wards.
While AAP has taken the lead in declaring its candidates, the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are still deliberating on potential contenders. The list bears the signatures of Jarnail Singh, AAP's Chandigarh in-charge, and Vijay Pal Singh, the party's state president.
The party has fielded Dildar Singh from Ward 1, Gurpreet Kaur Laddi from Ward 21, Anju Katyal from Ward 22, Onkar Singh Aulakh from Ward 23, Kuldeep Kumar from Ward 24, Radhika Dhingra from Ward 25, Ajit Singh Jind from Ward 27, Satnam Kaur from Ward 30 and Arun Prabha Khurana from Ward 32.
Sitting councillor Anju Katyal has been renominated from Ward 22. Meanwhile, following the reservation of Ward 25 for women, AAP has fielded Radhika Dhingra, wife of sitting councillor Yogesh Dhingra, from the ward.
The candidate list also reflects the changing political equations following the reservation of certain wards for women.
The Chandigarh Municipal Corporation elections are proposed to be held in December, with the election schedule likely to be announced this month. The civic body has 35 wards.
By releasing its first list well ahead of the polls, AAP appears to be giving its candidates sufficient time to begin campaigning and establish direct contact with voters.
The focus has now shifted to the Congress and BJP, as ticket aspirants in both parties remain active. Both parties are weighing ward reservations, local political equations and candidates' prospects before finalising their respective lists.
