Election of civic body vice-president postponed in Lalru

Our Correspondent

Lalru, April 16

The election to the post of the vice-president of the Municipal Council, Lalru, was postponed on Monday. It was scheduled for April 16. Paramjit Singh, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), who was appointed as the convener for the election by the Mohali Deputy Commissioner, could not turn up.

The post has been lying vacant for a year and a half. All nine councillors of the SAD-BJP alliance and local MLA NK Sharma were informed about it around 11.30 am.

Earlier, they had filed a writ petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, seeking the election.

NK Sharma termed the development as the murder of democracy. Sharma alleged that this had been done due to pressure from the ruling party.

Notably, the local civic body was dominated by the SAD-BJP alliance before the Assembly elections. After the elections, some councillors had shifted their loyalty. Sources said now the Congress had eight members in the house of 17 while the SAD-BJP alliance had nine councillors.

Harbaksh Singh, Executive Officer, Lalru MC, said he had received a message around 9 am from the SDM’s office regarding the development as the SDM could not come due to some family problem.

On the other hand, the Dera bassi MLA said he, along with the SAD-BJP councillors, would again move the Panjab and Haryana High Court to ensure the elections at the earliest.

Congress councillors fail to turn up 

None of the eight elected Congress councillors turned up for the poll. It has been speculated that they already knew that the poll will be postponed.