The civic body has 17 wards, and elections will be held on May 17. Rebels could dent the BJP’s prospects as it eyes a majority after its poor showing in 2021, when it won just seven seats while a rebel secured one, leaving the party short of the halfway mark of nine.
BJP leaders are now working to convince the rebels to step down. The rebels include Shanta and Ramesh Kumar (Ward 2), a couple Rajni and Gaurav (Ward 3), Vivek Dobhal (Ward 10), Chanderkanta (Ward 1), Suman Sahni (Ward 9), Mukesh (Ward 7), Jagdish Kumar (Ward 13) and Vidhi Chand Sharma (Ward 12).
In the Congress, outgoing Mayor Usha Sharma, who was denied the ticket, filed her nomination as an Independent. Devinder Kumar, another Congress rebel, also filed his nomination from Ward 4.
The Congress replaced Rajat Thapa with Sardar Singh, a sitting councillor from Ward 17, in Ward 3 after the former’s name was withdrawn. Singh is contesting from Ward 3 as his original ward was reserved for a woman.
A total of 55 candidates have filed nominations for 17 seats, including 34 from the BJP and the Congress, besides rebels and Independents. As many as 33 nominations were filed on the last day.
With rebels threatening to split votes, BJP leaders have begun outreach efforts to persuade them to withdraw. Congress candidates are believed to be encouraging some rebels to stay in the fray to divide BJP votes.
The large number of rebels has also raised questions over the BJP’s candidate selection process, despite claims of a democratic shortlisting from a panel of 51 names. Some last-minute inclusions have added to the disquiet.
State BJP president Dr Rajiv Bindal reached Solan on Saturday to ensure party nominees do not face challenges from rebels.
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