India, July 14 -- Panchkula

More than two months after the declaration of the municipal corporation (MC) election results and over one-and-a-half months after mayor Sham Lal Bansal took oath, Panchkula is yet to elect its senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor. The delay has drawn criticism from the opposition, which has accused the BJP-led government of undermining the democratic rights of elected councillors.

Mayor Sham Lal Bansal was sworn in on May 28 in the presence of chief minister Nayab Singh Saini. However, the elections to the two key posts have not been scheduled so far.

The BJP is in a comfortable position to secure both posts after winning 17 of the 20 wards in the recent civic polls. The Congress won only one seat from Ward...