Shimla mayor, deputy mayor assume office amid ‘Vedic mantras’ and ‘havan’

Their offices were purified with ‘Gangajal’ before they took charge officially. Mayor and deputy mayor were elected on June 20 but awaiting the ‘auspicious’ day the duo took seven days to join the office.

Newly elected Shimla mayor Kusum Sadrate and deputy mayor Rakesh Kumar Sharma assumed office in the presence of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders after ‘havan’ and chanting of ‘Vedic mantras’ on Tuesday.

Newly elected Shimla mayor Kusum Sadrate performing ‘havan’ on her first day in office on Tuesday. (Deepak Sansta/HT Photo)

Their offices were purified with ‘Gangajal’ before they took charge officially. Mayor and deputy mayor were elected on June 20 but awaiting the ‘auspicious’ day the duo took seven days to join the office.

Sources said the ‘auspicious’ day was suggested by priests.

Newly elected Shimla deputy mayor Rakesh Sharma performing ‘puja’ (prayer) on his first of office on Tuesday.

“Earlier both were to assume office on last Thursday but the schedule was changed,” a BJP leader said, requesting anonymity.

“We contested the election on an agenda. That agenda will be our policy document,” Kusum Sadrate said. “When I was not in the politics, water crisis was biggest issues in Shimla. My priority will be providing clean water to all that too in time,” she said.

Deputy mayor Rakesh Kumar Sharma said water and sanitation are his priority. “We have a vision document which would be followed by Shimla MC,” he said.

Before the due assumed office, BJP had organised a cleanliness drive in all 34 wards of the town.