The Chandigarh Municipal Corporation elections are proposed for December, and the dates could be announced as early as this month. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) released its first list of candidates on Friday, announcing nominees for 9 wards.
Meanwhile, the Congress and the BJP are still deliberating on the names of their potential candidates. The list bears the signatures of AAP’s Chandigarh in-charge, Jarnail Singh, and the party’s state president, Vijay Pal Singh. The list also reflects the shifting political dynamics resulting from the reservation of seats for women. List of candidates by ward:
Ward 1: Dildar Singh
Ward 21: Gurpreet Kaur Laddi
Ward 22: Anju Katyal
Ward 23: Onkar Singh Aulakh
Ward 24: Kuldeep Kumar
Ward 25: Radhika Dhingra
Ward 27: Ajit Singh Jind
Ward 30: Satnam Kaur
Ward 32: Arun Prabha Khurcha
Anju Katyal gets a ticket again
Anju Katyal has been named as the candidate for Ward 22 once more; she is the incumbent councillor. Following the reservation of Ward 25 for women, Radhika Dhingra—wife of councillor Yogesh Dhingra—has been fielded as the candidate. Sister-in-law of councillor Hardeep Singh to contest from his ward
Similarly, after the ward represented by councillor Hardeep Singh was reserved for women, his sister-in-law has been fielded for the election. In the ward represented by Jasveer Singh Laddi, his wife has also been fielded due to the implementation of women’s reservation.
It is evident from AAP’s first list that the party has selected candidates for certain wards by taking into account existing political and familial dynamics. By prioritizing the families of incumbent councilors—especially in wards reserved for women—the party has sought to preserve its local political base.
Awaiting the lists from Congress and the BJP
Elections for the 35 wards of the Municipal Corporation are proposed for December. By releasing its first list, the AAP has adopted a strategy to provide its candidates with ample time for campaigning and public outreach. Now, all eyes are on the lists from the Congress and the BJP. Within both parties, ticket aspirants are actively lobbying, and potential candidates are being considered with careful regard for ward reservation status and local political dynamics.
