P’kula Mayor-Commissioner tussle takes an ugly turn

Rajinder Nagarkoti

Tribune News Service

Panchkula, June 20

The tussle between Panchkula Mayor Upinder Kaur Ahluwalia and MC Commissioner Shaleen Kumar has intensified. 

The MC Commissioner today wrote to the Haryana Chief Secretary stating that the environment in the Panchkula MC was not conducive for working. Sources said in his letter, the Commissioner had also stated that he was getting “legal and Vigilance threats” from the Mayor. The sources said the Commissioner had stated that MC officials could not work under this “threatening environment” as the Mayor disrespected and abused him and other officials.  

The Commissioner has also mentioned about a telephonic conversation between him and the Mayor on June 19 in which he was disrespected by her. This is not the first time that there has been a tiff between the Mayor and the MC Commissioner in Panchkula. There was a tussle between the Mayor and former MC Commissioner Lalit Siwach. Finally, Siwach was shifted to the Regional Transport Authority (RTA), Panchkula. 

Commissioner cancels meeting; Mayor adamant 

The Mayor has decided to hold an MC House meeting on Wednesday notwithstanding whether officials are present or not, whereas the MC Commissioner has cancelled the meeting. Councillors have received calls from MC officials about the cancellation of the meeting on Wednesday. On June 19, an MC House meeting was called, but the MC Commissioner did not turn up for it. Thereafter, the Mayor fixed the meeting for June 21.

Commissioner seeks written apology

The MC Commissioner has written to the Mayor demanding a written apology from her for her "misbehaviour". Sources said the Commissioner had stated that he would not attend any meeting till the Mayor tendered a written apology.

Shaleen playing into BJP leaders' hands: Upinder 

Mayor Upinder Kaur Ahluwalia said the MC Commissioner was playing into the hands of the local BJP leadership. She said she never disrespected him or any other MC official. It was, in fact, the Commissioner who disrespected the democratic set-up in Panchkula and its elected and nominated councillors, she said.