Congress leader Manish Tewari has defeated BJP’s Sanjay Tandon while contesting from the union territory of Chandigarh by 2,580 votes. The Congress was on track to secure the lone Lok Sabha seat in the Union Territory of Chandigarh for the third consecutive time and did it with a little margin between both the candidates. Exit polls released on Saturday had also indicated that Congress candidate Manish Tewari is expected to triumph over BJP’s Sanjay Tandon. Voting for the Chandigarh Lok Sabha constituency took place on June 1.

Historical Context

In the 2019 and 2014 Lok Sabha elections, BJP’s Kirron Anupam Kher won the seat with a voteshare of 50.64% and 42.20% respectively. This election saw Tandon replacing the incumbent Kher, allegedly due to health concerns.

New Alliances and Breakups

For the first time, the Congress is contesting the Chandigarh elections in alliance with AAP. Conversely, BJP and its traditional ally, Shiromani Akali Dal, have parted ways for this election.

Manish Tewari’s Significant Campaign

For Manish Tewari, a two-time MP and former Union minister aged 58, this election is particularly significant, marking a homecoming he has awaited since the 2009 polls. Historically, Congress leadership has consistently trusted veteran functionary Pawan Kumar Bansal since 1991. Bansal maintained a strong presence in the city’s political landscape, resisting new contenders.

Pawan Kumar Bansal’s Legacy

Bansal secured victory in four out of the eight elections he contested, notably winning three consecutive terms in 1999, 2004, and 2009. However, he faced significant defeats in the last two Lok Sabha polls, losing to Kher.

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