Opp fumes over Congress appointed ward in-charges

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, February 21

SAD-BJP councillors are fuming over the appointment of ward in-charge by the Congress in the city, who call the shots regarding development works in their area, ignoring municipal councillors.

BJP councillor from Ward Number 41, Anjana Rani, said, “It is wrong that the Congress appointed ward in-charge is taking calls on the development works. The issues raised by me are ignored by MCB officials.”

BJP councillor from Ward Number 1, Gurinderpal Kaur Mangat, who is also the deputy mayor, said, “We do have issues on the appointment of the ward in-charges. They can do it but they should also invite public representatives in the meeting regarding the development issues, otherwise there is no use of any councillors.”

She claimed that a few days ago, Finance Minister Manpreet Badal held a meeting with officials of various departments for Ward Number 1 to discuss the developmental works.

In the meeting, MCB commissioner and the Congress ward in-charge was present while she being the deputy mayor and elected public representative was not called to join.

She claimed that elected representatives were sidelined by MCB officials as nobody listened to their demands.

Independent councillor supporting SAD from Ward Number 45, Harvinder Sharma Ganju, said, “This is constitutionally wrong as councillors are elected by the people of the area and individual persons cannot directly decide regarding developmental works in the area.”

He claimed that since the Congress government had come to power, the development work had come to a halt in his ward. Even the works whose tenders were released have not started till date, he added.

SAD leader and Mayor Balwant Rai Nath said councillors were most significant and it was wrong that if anyone was politically trying to sideline them.

He assured that all agendas and money for developmental work would be approved or released after the consent of the councillors.