The first meeting of Jalandhar Municipal Corporation will be convened on January 11, 2025, after the Punjab Civic Body Elections 2024. In the first meeting, the winning councillors will be taking oath in the Jalandhar MC. Following this, the election of the three major posts i.e. Mayor, Senior Deputy Mayor, and Deputy Mayor will also take place.
Jalandhar MC meeting will take place on January 11 at 3 pm in Red Cross Bhawan. Notably, AAP on Wednesday stretched its lead in Jalandhar MC to 45 after Satya Rani, from Ward Number 17 of Jalandhar Cantt joined the party. It made a safe way for the AAP's Mayor candidate. Although the majority mark for the Mayor post is 43, AAP has now provided itself a cushion in case there are any cross-voting takes place.
Who will be Jalandhar's new Mayor, Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor?
As per sources in the known development, AAP Councillor from Ward Number 62, Vaneet Dhir's name is almost finalised for the post of Mayor. Vaneet Dhir was among the top faces of AAP for the Jalandhar MC Elections 2024. He won from Ward Number 62 by more than 4000 votes. The AAP candidate defeated Congress's Sanjeev Dua quite comfortably. BJP candidate Balwinder Singh withdrew his nomination from Ward number 62.
Sources further suggest that Karamjeet Kaur of Ward Number 11 and Malkeet Singh of Ward Number 38 are likely to be elected as Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor's post respectively.
For the unversed, Karamjeet Kaur is the wife of Balbir Singh Bittu, a former Shiromani Akali Dal councillor. Bittu switched to the AAP in Jalandhar ahead of the civic polls along with his wife Karamjeet Kaur. Both were given tickets from wards number 10 and 11 respectively by the AAP and they both won. The couple will now serve in the corporation together for the first time.
On the other hand, Malkeet Singh who won from Ward Number 38 on AAP's ticket is likely to be elected for Deputy Mayor's post of Jalandhar.
It is pertinent to mention here that Congress is also likely nominate a councillor for the Mayor's post. As per sources, Congress may put forward Balraj Thakur who won from Ward Number 32 as a Mayor candidate. If Congress put forward the name of Balraj Thakur, there will be Mayor's election and every winning councillor will have to vote. Since, AAP is enjoying a clear majority in the Jalandhar MC, it is most likely to secure all top three posts- Mayor, Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor.