At the outset, both Kher and Panag will have to fight out the charge that they are 'outsiders' in Chandigarh.
Even though Kher was born and brought up in Chandigarh and her sister lives here and Panag's father too is settled here, both celebrities live in Mumbai.
Kher could face opposition from three top BJP leaders -- Chandigarh BJP president Sanjay Tandon, former MP Satya Pal Jain and former union minister Harmohan Dhawan. All three wanted the Chandigarh ticket.
"The ladies have just about 25 days to prove their credentials as serious politicians to the electorate in Chandigarh. They will have to ward off criticism that they are parachute candidates who don't really have a link to Chandigarh," Shrieya, a student and first-time voter, told IANS.
Outgoing MP Bansal, who won from Chandigarh in 1991, 1999, 2004 and 2009 but lost in 1996 and 1998, will have to toil hard this time with the union territory's electorate of over 5.80 lakh.
