AAP releases 42-candidate Mohali MC list amid nomination filings; Congress indecisive on ward 28, SAD and AAP file papers district-wide

Authorities indicated that May 16 will be the final day for filing nomination papers for Mohali MC polls, with ongoing nomination processes and confirmations continuing from the preceding day.

BJP district president Sanjeev Vashisht accused police of harassing party candidates and preventing them from filing papers. A video showing a heated exchange with police circulated on social media. Vashisht cited Jaswinder Kaka (ward 4) from Phase 1 as an example of repeated calls to police stations before filing nominations. Mohali City 1 DSP Gurcharan Singh stated the calls were routine checks for untoward situations.

Among SAD nominees are Bibi Kuldeep Kaur Kang, a two-time councillor and former president of Istri Akali Dal Mohali, and Inderpreet Kaur Prince. The party also projected a 25-year-old advocate, Sukhbir Singh, from ward 44 as its youngest Mohali candidate.

Forty candidates, including 20 each from the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and AAP, filed nomination papers for the Mohali MC on Friday. Deputy commissioner-cum-district election officer Komal Mittal reported that 134 nomination papers had been filed across Mohali district by that evening. Zirakpur Municipal Council saw 53 papers; Kurali 19; Banur 13; Derabassi and Lalru four each; Naya Gaon Nagar Council one. May 16 was stated as the final day for filing nomination papers.

The article notes that around 78% of nominees are first-time contestants, with 11 known faces including Raj Rani Jain, Jaspreet Kaur, Kamalpreet Singh Bunny, Taranjeet Kaur Gill, Namrata Dhillon, Rupinder Kaur, Harjeet Singh Baidwan, Baljit Kaur, Narpinder Singh Rangi, Jatinder Kaur and Manjit Kaur. The Congress has fielded six candidates from the scheduled caste and two from the backward class. Among contestants are Raj Rani Jain (ward 21) and her son Gaurav Jain (ward 20). Raj Rani is the wife of former senior deputy mayor Rishabh Jain, who passed away last year.

The Congress party had not filed any nomination for ward 28 on Friday despite announcing 49 candidates including 25 women. Basant Singh’s nomination was replaced by Amit Jain, who had recently switched from AAP, with Basant Singh’s consent. The party has yet to finalize its nominee for ward 28.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) released its first list of 42 candidates for Mohali Municipal Corporation elections. The list includes 19 women, five from the scheduled caste, and two from the backward class. Former Mohali mayor and AAP MLA Kulwant Singh noted that over 90% of candidates are experienced, with 20 of the 42 filing nomination papers that day and eight more to be finalized. New face Sharanjeet Kaur joined from the BJP (ward 39). Other prominent nominees include Sunny Singh Ahluwalia, RP Sharma, Gurmit Kaur, Gurmukh Singh Sohal, Harpal Singh Channa, Harbinder Singh, Phoolraj Singh, Ramanpreet Kaur, Sarabjeet Singh Samana and Karamjit Kaur; Gurmit Kaur (ward 3) and Harbinder Singh (ward 4) are among the party’s candidates.