MetaBOT at 20:32, 8 July 2023

2023-07-08T20:32:24Z

New page

{{short description|Local body election in India}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}

{{Infobox election
| election_name = 2021 Chandigarh Municipal Corporation election
| ongoing = No
| election_date = 24 December 2021
| previous_election = 2016 Chandigarh Municipal Corporation election
| previous_year = 2016
| country = India
| type = Legislative
| party1 = [[Aam Aadmi Party|AAP]]
| image1 = [[File:AAP_Symbol.png|70px]]
| leader1 = 
| leader2 =
| party2 = [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]]
| image2 = [[File:BJP election symbol.png|40px]]
| party3 = [[Indian National Congress|INC]]
| image3 = [[File:Hand INC.svg|60px]]
| leader3 =
| party4 = Shiromani Akali Dal
| image4 =
| last_election4 = 1
| last_election1 = ''did not contest''
| last_election2 = 20
| after_party = Bharatiya Janata Party
| percentage4 = 2.78%
| percentage3 = 29.79%
| percentage2 = 29.30%
| percentage1 = 27.08%
| swing1 = {{increase}}27.08%
| swing2 = {{decrease}}19.70%
| swing3 = {{decrease}}1.21%
| last_election3 = 4
| seats4 = 1
| seats3 = 8
| seats2 = 12
| seats1 = 14
| seat_change1 = {{increase}} 14
| seat_change2 = {{decrease}} 8
| seat_change3 = {{increase}} 4
| after_election = Sarabjit Kaur
| before_election = [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]]
| title = Majority
| seats_for_election = All 35 seats of the [[Municipal Corporation Chandigarh|Chandigarh Municipal Corporation]]
| majority_seats = 18
| turnout = 60.7%
}}

The elections for the [[Municipal Corporation Chandigarh|Chandigarh Municipal Corporation]] were held on 24 December 2021. 203 candidates campaigned for 35 seats in the [[Chandigarh]] election. Election results were declared on 27 December 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-12-10|title=Chandigarh MC polls: 203 in fray for 35 wards, rebels still pose a challenge|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/chandigarh-mc-polls-203-in-fray-for-35-wards-rebels-still-pose-a-challenge-101639082261890.html|access-date=2021-12-27|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref>

Contesting the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation elections for the first time, [[Aam Aadmi Party]] (AAP) won 14 seats and became the single largest party in the council of total 35 elected seats.

== Background ==
[[2016 Chandigarh Municipal Corporation election]] was won by [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP) + [[Shiromani Akali Dal]] (SAD) alliance. In the [[2019 Indian general election]], [[Chandigarh (Lok Sabha constituency)]] was won by BJP.<ref name="IE 27 Dec Explained" />

In the 2021 Chandigarh Municipal Corporation election, [[Shiromani Akali Dal|SAD]] and [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]] contested separately without an alliance. [[Aam Aadmi Party]] (AAP) contested this election for the first time.<ref name="IE 27 Dec Explained" />

The number of wards of the corporation were increased from 26 in [[2016 Chandigarh Municipal Corporation election|2016]] to 35 in the 2021 election.<ref name="outlookindia 27 Dec 21" />

==Major issues of the electorate==
===Tariffs===
The BJP-ruled corporation had increased the water tariff by 20,000 per cent. This created a widespread discontent among the residents. AAP promised to "provide free water up to 20,000 litres to each family in Chandigarh every month".<ref name="IE 27 Dec Explained">{{cite news |title=Explained: 5 reasons why AAP scored big in Chandigarh municipal polls |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-why-aap-scored-big-in-chandigarh-municipal-polls-7693012/ |access-date=27 December 2021 |work=The Indian Express |date=27 December 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

There was an acute shortage of parking space. As the problem aggravated local traffic control, the BJP-led corporation increased the parking charges in the city. The increase in the waste collection charges, water tariff and property tax rates during the last five years turned the voters against the incumbent BJP.<ref name="IE 27 Dec Explained" />

The increased expenditure for the basic amenities and these tariff hikes led to a strong discontent among the voters.<ref name="IE 27 Dec Explained" />

===Cleanliness===
In 2016, Chandigarh was the [[List of cleanest cities in India|second cleanest city of India]]. In 2016 BJP came to power in the corporation. In the years that followed, garbage from the city was not disposed off properly. Lack of a proper process or mechanism led to the garbage piling up at Dadumajra.<ref name="IE 27 Dec Explained" />

In 2021, Chandigarh fell to the 66th position in the list of cleanest cities of India. The city had always taken pride in the fact that it was one of the cleanest cities of the country. The fall in cleanliness became an important poll issue. The residents were upset by the downfall in the cleanliness.<ref name="IE 27 Dec Explained" />

=== Covid-19 ===
The government's handling of the [[COVID-19 pandemic in India]] damaged BJP's image as the voters felt that they were not given their desired help in getting the hospital beds and medical oxygen from their elected representatives. The sitting Councillors were found to be unapproachable when the public needed support. No major relief measure was taken by the local government.<ref name="IE 27 Dec Explained" />

==Campaign==
===AAP===
The newcomer candidates from AAP focussed on the local issues such as parking, waste management, water supply and education. The candidates reached out to the voters and promised to bring a change if elected.<ref name="IE 27 Dec Explained" />

==== Star Campaigners<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-12-09|title=After BJP, AAP releases its list of star campaigners|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/after-bjp-aap-releases-its-list-of-star-campaigners-7663340/|access-date=2021-12-31|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref> ====
*[[Arvind Kejriwal|Avrind Kejriwal]]
*[[Bhagwant Mann]]
*[[Harpal Singh Cheema]]
*[[Pradeep Chabra|Pardeep Chabra]],
*[[Sanjay Singh (Indian politician)|Sanjay Singh]]

===BJP===
During the campaign, the BJP candidates were relying on the popularity of the BJP Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They made appeals to voters on [[Hindutva]] and used Hindu religious slogans like ''[[Jai Shri Ram]]''. The candidates did not focus on the local issues and tried to promote the work done under the [[Premiership of Narendra Modi]].<ref name="IE 27 Dec Explained" />

==== Star Campaigners<ref>{{Cite web|last=Service|first=Tribune News|title=Chandigarh MC elections: Amit Shah, JP Nadda, 3 CMs to campaign for BJP|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/chandigarh/chandigarh-mc-elections-amit-shah-jp-nadda-3-cms-to-campaign-for-bjp-346676|access-date=2021-12-31|website=Tribuneindia News Service|language=en}}</ref> ====

*[[Amit Shah (mayor)|Amit Shah]]
*[[JP Nadda]]
*[[Anurag Thakur]]
*[[Pushkar Singh Dhami]]
*[[Jai Ram Thakur]]
*[[Yogi Adityanath]]

== Polling Process ==
Around 6.3 lakh voters were eligible to cast their votes.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Chandigarh municipal elections 2021: Date, time, schedule, results |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/chandigarh-municipal-elections-2021-date-time-schedule-results-all-you-need-to-know/2380397/|access-date=2021-12-27|website=The Financial Express|language=en}}</ref> The wards were increased from 26-35. 694 polling booths were set up across Chandigarh. No VVPAT machines were used in this election.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-12-14|title=Chandigarh MC polls: Political slugfest ensues over decision to not use VVPAT|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/chandigarh-mc-polls-political-slugfest-ensues-over-decision-to-not-use-vvpat-101639425850875.html|access-date=2021-12-27|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref> 60% votes were recorded in the election.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-12-24|title=60% polls recorded in elections of Chandigarh Municipal Corporation|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/60-polls-recorded-in-elections-of-chandigarh-municipal-corporation-101640366272626.html|access-date=2021-12-27|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref>

The Chandigarh administration declared December 22, 23, 24 and 27 as dry day and prohibited the sale and serving of liquor on these days, during the election and counting.<ref name="MC polls Dry day">{{cite news |title=Chandigarh MC polls: December 22–24 to be dry days |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/chandigarh-mc-polls-december-22-24-to-be-dry-days-101639772712372.html |access-date=28 December 2021 |work=Hindustan Times |date=18 December 2021 |language=en}}</ref> Polls were counted on 27 December. Nine counting centers were set up for 35 wards.<ref name="outlookindia 27 Dec 21" />

== Results ==
Contesting the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation elections for the first time, AAP won 14 seats and became the single largest party in the council of total 35 elected seats.<ref name="NDTV 27 Dec">{{cite news |title=AAP Wins Most Seats In Chandigarh Polls On Debut, BJP Mayor Among Losers |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/chandigarh-civic-polls-aaps-big-debut-in-chandigarh-civic-polls-as-punjab-preps-for-elections-2673407 |access-date=27 December 2021 |work=NDTV.com}}</ref> Sitting mayor Ravi Kant Sharma from BJP lost his seat to AAP candidate Damanpreet Singh.<ref name="Tribuneindia Full list MC 2021">{{cite news |title=AAP emerges as leading party as Chandigarh MC poll throws up hung house; BJP's sitting mayor loses |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/chandigarh/counting-of-votes-under-way-for-chandigarh-municipal-corporation-polls-355069 |work=Tribuneindia |agency=Tribune News Service |date=28 December 2021 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="outlookindia 27 Dec 21" />

In ward number 21, former mayor and BJP candidate Davesh Moudgil was defeated by AAP's Jasbir.<ref name="outlookindia 27 Dec 21">{{cite news |title=Chandigarh Municipal Polls: AAP Emerges Leading Party; Party’s Damanpreet Singh Defeats BJP Mayor |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/india-news-chandigarh-municipal-polls-aap-emerges-leading-party-partys-damanpreet-singh-defeats-bjp-mayor/406949 |work=outlookindia.com |date=27 December 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

=== Overall results ===
{|class="sortable wikitable"
|+| Chandigarh Municipal Corporation
|-
! colspan="2" |Party!! Seats won !! '''Seats +/−'''
!Vote %
|-
| {{party color cell|Aam Aadmi Party}}
| [[Aam Aadmi Party]] || 14 || {{increase}}14
|27.08%
|-
| {{party color cell|Bharatiya Janata Party}}
| [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] || 12 || {{decrease}} 8
|29.30%
|-
| {{party color cell|Indian National Congress}}
| [[Indian National Congress]] || 8 || {{increase}}4
|29.79%
|-
| {{party color cell|Shiromani Akali Dal}}
| [[Shiromani Akali Dal]] || 1 || {{unchanged}}
|2.78%
|-
| {{party color cell|Bahujan Samaj Party}}
| [[Bahujan Samaj Party]] || 0 || {{unchanged}}
|2.14%
|-
| {{party color cell|Independent}}
| [[Independent (politician)|Independents]] || 0 || {{unchanged}}
|7.10%
|-
|
| [[None of the above|NOTA]]
|colspan='2'| N/A
|1.34
|}

=== Ward Wise Results ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Ward<br>No.
!Councillor<ref name="Tribuneindia Full list MC 2021" /><ref name="outlookindia 27 Dec 21" />
! colspan="2" |Party
|-
|1
| Jaswinder Kaur
| {{party color cell|Aam Aadmi Party}}
|[[Aam Aadmi Party|AAP]]
|-
|2
| Maheshinder Singh Sidhu
| bgcolor=#FF9933|
| [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]]
|-
|3
| Dalip Sharma
| bgcolor=#FF9933|
| [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]]
|-
|4
| Suman Devi
| {{party color cell|Aam Aadmi Party}}
|[[Aam Aadmi Party|AAP]]
|-
|5
| Darshana
| {{party color cell|Indian National Congress}}
|[[Indian National Congress|INC]]
|-
|6
| Sarbajit Kaur
| {{party color cell|Bharatiya Janata Party}}
| [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]]
|-
|7
| Manoj Kumar
| bgcolor=#FF9933|
| [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]]
|-
|8
| Harjeet Singh
| bgcolor=#FF9933|
| [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]]
|-
|9
| Bimala Dubey
| bgcolor=#FF9933|
| [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]]
|-
|10
|Harpreet Kaur Babla
|{{party color cell|Indian National Congress}}
|[[Indian National Congress|INC]]
|-
|11
| Anup Gupta
| bgcolor=#FF9933|
| [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]]
|-
|12
| Saurabh Joshi
| bgcolor=#FF9933|
| [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]]
|-
|13
| Sachin Galav
| {{party color cell|Indian National Congress}}
|[[Indian National Congress|INC]]
|-
|14
| Kuljeet Sandhu
| bgcolor=#FF9933|
| [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]]
|-
|15
| Ram Chander Yadav
| {{party color cell|Aam Aadmi Party}}
|[[Aam Aadmi Party|AAP]]
|-
|16
| Poonam
| {{party color cell|Aam Aadmi Party}}
|[[Aam Aadmi Party|AAP]]
|-
|17
|Damanpreet Singh
| {{party color cell|Aam Aadmi Party}}
|[[Aam Aadmi Party|AAP]]
|-
|18
| Taruna Mehta
| {{party color cell|Aam Aadmi Party}}
|[[Aam Aadmi Party|AAP]]
|-
|19
|Neha
| {{party color cell|Aam Aadmi Party}}
|[[Aam Aadmi Party|AAP]]
|-
|20
| Gurcharanjit Singh
| {{party color cell|Indian National Congress}}
|[[Indian National Congress|INC]]
|-
|21
|Jasbir Singh
| {{party color cell|Aam Aadmi Party}}
|[[Aam Aadmi Party|AAP]]
|-
|22
| Anju Katyal
| {{party color cell|Aam Aadmi Party}}
|[[Aam Aadmi Party|AAP]]
|-
|23
| Prem Lata
| {{party color cell|Aam Aadmi Party}}
|[[Aam Aadmi Party|AAP]]
|-
|24
| Jasbir Singh
| {{party color cell|Indian National Congress}}
|[[Indian National Congress|INC]]
|-
|25
| Yogesh Dhingra
| {{party color cell|Aam Aadmi Party}}
|[[Aam Aadmi Party|AAP]]
|-
|26
| Kuldeep Kumar
| {{party color cell|Aam Aadmi Party}}
|[[Aam Aadmi Party|AAP]]
|-
|27
| Gurbax Rawat
| {{party color cell|Indian National Congress}}
|[[Indian National Congress|INC]]
|-
|28
|Nirmala Devi
| {{party color cell|Indian National Congress}}
|[[Indian National Congress|INC]]
|-
|29
| Manaur
| {{party color cell|Aam Aadmi Party}}
|[[Aam Aadmi Party|AAP]]
|-
|30
| Hardeep Singh
| {{party color cell|Shiromani Akali Dal}}
|[[Shiromani Akali Dal|SAD]]
|-
|31
|Lakhbir Singh
| {{party color cell|Aam Aadmi Party}}
|[[Aam Aadmi Party|AAP]]
|-
|32
| Jasmanpreet Singh Babbar
| bgcolor=#FF9933|
| [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]]
|-
|33
| Kanwarjit Rana
| bgcolor=#FF9933|
| [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]]
|-
|34
| Gurpeet Singh
| {{party color cell|Indian National Congress}}
|[[Indian National Congress|INC]]
|-
|35
| Rajinder Kumar Sharma
| bgcolor=#FF9933|
| [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]]
|}

== Aftermath ==
On 30 December 2021, Arvind Kejriwal took part in a road show to express gratitude towards Chandigarh people.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-12-31|title=Arvind Kejriwal in Chandigarh: AAP’s civic poll success sent ‘strong message’, will return after wining Punjab|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/arvind-kejriwal-chandigarh-mc-polls-aap-7698266/|access-date=2021-12-31|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref>

== Mayor election ==
[[Ravi Kant Sharma]] was the sitting mayor at the time of election. He lost his seat to Damanpreet Singh, an AAP candidate.<ref name="outlookindia 27 Dec 21" /> Of the five-year term of the MC House, the MCC mayor seat during the first and fourth years is reserved for the women. 2022 being the first year of the term, is reserved for women mayor.<ref name="Financial Express 4 Jan 2022">{{cite news |title=Chandigarh Mayor Election 2022 on January 8; AAP, BJP in race |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/chandigarh-mayor-chunav-2022-on-january-8-aap-bjp-in-race-as-congress-opts-out/2397729/ |access-date=7 January 2022 |work=The Financial Express |date=4 January 2022 |language=en}}</ref>

3 January was the last date for submission of nominations for the post of the mayor, senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor of Chandigarh Municipal Corporation. New office holders for these posts will be elected on 8 January 2022, in the assembly hall of the Chandigarh municipal corporation (CMC). BJP councilor Maheshinder Singh Sidhu will be presiding the mayor election.<ref name="Financial Express 4 Jan 2022" />

A party has to win 19 wards so that its councilor can be elected as the mayor.<ref name="babla"/> After the election no party held a clear majority and AAP remains the single largest party with 14 councilors. The contest for Mayor seat was between AAP with 14 seats and BJP with 12 seats. Congress with 8 seats was out of the Mayor race.<ref name="Financial Express 4 Jan 2022" />

On 2 January, ward 10 councilor who won the election on Congress party ticket, joined BJP and increased BJP strength to 13.<ref name="babla">{{Cite web|title=Congress's Chandigarh Councillor Joins BJP Days After Elections|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/congresss-chandigarh-councillor-joins-bjp-days-after-elections-2684791|access-date=2022-01-04|website=NDTV.com}}</ref> The Chandigarh MP also has a vote in the house. Kirron Kher is the BJP MP from the Chandigarh seat. Adding these two votes in support of BJP, the BJP's vote tally became 14 (same as AAP). 19 votes are needed to get elected as a Mayor.<ref name="Financial Express 4 Jan 2022" />

To prevent the members from engaging in cross party votes or changing their party, AAP moved its newly elected councilors to Delhi and Congress shifted their councilors to Jaipur. AAP claimed that the Delhi visit of their councilors was planned in advance.<ref name="Financial Express 4 Jan 2022" /> [[Bharatiya Janata Party|Bhartiya Janata Party's]] Sarabjit Kaur was elected as new mayor of Chandigarh. BJP and AAP took part in voting. Out of 28 BJP got 14 votes and AAP got 13 votes. One vote of AAP party was declared invalid.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://chandigarh.gov.in/departments/state-election-commission Results declared by the State Election Commission]
*https://chandigarh.gov.in/sites/default/files/GEMCC-2021/result.pdf

{{Chandigarh elections}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chandigarh Municipal Corporation Election, 2021}}

{{#seo:
|keywords=Elections in Chandigarh, 2020s in Chandigarh, 2021 elections in India
|description=
}}

[[Category:Municipal corporation elections in India|Chandigarh]]
[[Category:Elections in Chandigarh]]
[[Category:2020s in Chandigarh]]
[[Category:2021 elections in India]]

2021 Chandigarh Municipal Corporation election - Revision history

MetaBOT at 20:32, 8 July 2023