OK, youve got your mayor. Now what?

It was an action-packed day outside HUDA Gymkhana Club where the mayoral election took place on Tuesday. While a majority of the councillors came in their luxury cars, the crucial club of 13 members came by a chartered bus escorted by the local MP, Rao Indrajit Singh.
The administration kept the media at bay during the oath-taking ceremony of councillors.The media was kept away from the election too. A huge crowd had gathered outside the venue and cops stood guard to ensure everything went off smoothly.
Drummers had arrived at the venue at least an hour before the election was held, indicating how it was known Singhs influence would do the trick. One of drummers said that they had been booked by Vimal Yadav, an Independent councillor, who won the mayors post by 11 votes. His supporters too were ready with carloads of sweet boxes and garlands.
Yadavs victory was an indicator of how caste played a crucial role in the outcome.
Sources said that Monday night was crucial. Both INLD and BJP, which had decided to support a common candidate, fell out with each other in the eleventh hour. There were also reports of cross-voting by a couple of BJP councillors that enabled Yadav to win more convincingly.
Earlier, soon after the oath-taking ceremony all the six INLD councillors had staged a walkout when they were sure of losing and chose not to cast their ballot.
The BJP said that it was taking the cross-voting issue seriously and would scrutinize it. We could have had our mayor had the INLD not pulled the rug from under our feet at the last minute. We are also aware that a few of our councillors seemed to have supported the rival candidate. We will investigate, said a senior leader.
The BJP had hoped to put up a tough fight after it got the support of one Independent candidate, Seema Pahuja, who had claimed the support of four other Independents. Sources said that the plan of the BJP-INLD combine with Pahujas supporters could have made the election a close fight.
Pahuja, an office-bearer of the district Congress committee, was one of the main contenders for the mayors post. There were also reports from the Congress camp that she had the backing of local MLA Sukhbir Kataria and chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda.
Now that she has joined the BJP, there is a feeling in the party that she should be suspended. We are happy that candidates supported by us have been elected. Now we want them to work as an independent body and start delivering. The delay in holding the election has not gone down well with people, Indrajit Singh said.
Political observers are now reading more into this mayor poll outcome. In the light of reports of chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda sidelining Yadav leaders from southern Haryana, the local MP Indrajit having his control over affairs and political developments might strengthen his position in the party in the near future.