Panchkula, April 21: The Indian National Congress has nominated Sudha Bhardwaj as its mayoral candidate for the upcoming Panchkula Municipal Corporation elections. The decision, announced Sunday by Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee president Rao Narender Singh, positions the former state president of the party’s women’s wing as the primary challenger for the May 10 contest.
Bhardwaj, who is the wife of Congress media in-charge Sanjiv Bhardwaj, received the final nod from Haryana Congress in-charge BK Hariprasad. The party selected her from a pool of 12 aspirants, notably moving past former mayor Upinder Kaur Ahluwalia, who did not enter the race this year following her 2020 defeat.
“All through these years, she has just served people, which is why the party high command has given her the opportunity,” Sanjiv Bhardwaj stated. He noted that her community service, particularly during the pandemic, played a significant role in her selection.
Sudha Bhardwaj affirmed that her campaign will focus on civic improvements, including cleanliness and youth opportunities. She declared that she intends to reach out to voters with a platform centered on women’s safety and public welfare. Meanwhile, BJP district president Ajay Mittal stated that his party is in the final stages of selecting candidates for the 20 wards, with former mayor Kulbhushan Goyal expected to be a top contender for the ticket once again.
