SHIMLA: Surender Chauhan, a three- time Chhota Shimla Councillor and a confidante of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu was elected as new Mayor and Uma Kaushal, a three times councillor from Tuttikandi ward as deputy Mayor of the 34-member House of the Shimla municipal corporation, one of India's oldest municipalities here today.
Both Chauhan and Uma Kaushal were elected unanimously as Mayor and Deputy in the first general house of corporation as BJP did not put up its candidates due to its lack of number.
After taking oath at the Bachhat Bhawan, all the newly elected 34 councillors took part in the election conducted by the district administration in the presence of the cabinet ministers Harshvardhan Chauhan, Rohit Thakur, Anirudh Singh and Shimla MLA HarishJanartha.
The oath of office and secrecy was administered by Shivam Pratap Singh, ADM Shimla.
All the 24 Congress councillors were first called at Oak Over by the Chief Minister Sukhu and PCC President Pratibha Singh to finalise the names for the posts of Mayor and Deputy Mayor to avoid any spilt or controversy.
Names of Surender Chauhan(Guddu) and Uma Kaushal were finalised for the post of Mayor and Deputy Mayor.
Later in the evening both Chauhan and Uma Kaushal met the Chief Minister.
CM announced the release of Rs 10 Crore for the maintenance of the roads in the capital city which are in bad shape.
He also said SMC would use UV technology to provide clean water to the city residents.
Congress has 14 women councilors, while BJP has six women councillors in the 34-member House.
Women councillors have been batting for the both posts for the woman councilor in the House. 
Since the BJP has just nine councillors, while CPIM has one councilor in the 34-Memnber House, the party did not put its candidates for the posts.
House needs just 17 members for the simple majority.
Congress wrested the SMC power from the BJP this time. BJP had ruled the corporation from 2018-2023 and Satya Kaundal was the Mayor, but she lost the election to the new comer Mamta Chandel.
