In the closely watched Chandigarh mayoral election, Manoj Kumar Sonkar, backed by the BJP, emerged as the winner, marking a significant moment as it was the first electoral battle between the BJP and the INDIA bloc.

This contest held on Tuesday garnered attention due to its high stakes. Sonkar’s victory was over the joint candidate fielded by the AAP-Congress alliance, Kuldeep Singh. The BJP candidate secured a total of 16 votes, a crucial one being the support of ex-officio member Kirron Kher.

On the other hand, the candidate from the INDIA bloc managed to gather 12 votes, but faced a setback with 8 votes declared invalid. This outcome highlights the political dynamics in Chandigarh and sets the tone for future elections in the region.