No-trust motion against Samalkha MC chief

Mukesh Tandon

Tribune News Service

Panipat, June 22

Terming the one-year term of president of the Municipal Committee, Samalkha, Ashok Kuchhal as “unsatisfactory”, 15 of the 17 councillors today moved a no-confidence motion against him before the Deputy Commissioner.

Councillors Sunil Sharma (Ward 2), Praveen Beniwal vice-chairman (Ward 3), Kusum Lata (Ward 4), Praveen Kumar (Ward 5), Poonam Jhanda (Ward 6), Vikram (Ward 7), Jaipal Kuhar (Ward 9), Praveen Kumari (Ward 10), Shyam Sunder (Ward 11), Ruchi Mittal (Ward 12), Nidhi Mittal (Ward 13), Bijender Pal (Ward 14), Santosh (Ward 15), Rajesh Kumar (Ward 16) and Bijender Garg (Ward 17) were present in the Deputy Commissioner’s office today.

Chander Shekhar Khare, DC, said he would issue a notice to the president of the MC, Samlakha, and he would be required to prove his majority in a time-frame.

Shyam Sunder, councillor of Ward 11, along with other councillors, said, “Ashok Kucchal has failed to start development works in the city area in the last one year. His behaviour was not good with the councillors too.”

Councillors had passed many development projects for the city in three-four meetings of the House but no tender was invited by the chairman, and if invited then it was cancelled in 10-15 days, they added.

On the question about the next chairman, all councillors answered that “Vidhayak ji jise chahenge vahi chairman hoga” (The chairman will be of the MLA’s choice).

Besides, PP Kapoor, an RTI activist, has filed a complaint to the Minister of State for Mining Nayab Singh Saini against Ravinder Machroli, MLA, Samalkha; councillors of MC, Samalkha, for demanding money from Kuchhal in the name of chairman of the MC.

He alleged Machroli along with some councillors, was playing “dirty politics” with innocent residents of the town. He demanded registration of an FIR against Machroli, and councillors. He also demanded an inquiry by the Vigilance Bureau into the allegations.