Sirsa MC chief faces trust vote

Sushil Manav

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 20

Sirsa Municipal Council chief Sheela Sehgal of the BJP faces a no-confidence vote.

Deputy Commissioner Prabhjot Singh on Wednesday ordered action under the Municipal Act after 21 out of 31 councillors submitted a memorandum expressing lack of confidence in her.

Of the 21 dissident councillors, 12 are from the BJP, the party to which Sheela Sehgal owes allegiance. Four are from the Congress and five from Gopal Kanda’s Haryana Lokhit Party.

Two INLD-supported councillors have not backed the move of the dissident councillors against the municipal chief. As Sirsa MLA Makhan Lal Singla and MP Charanjit Singh Rori — who are also ex-officio members of the MC — belong to the INLD, the party’s stand will play a crucial role in the no-confidence vote against Sehgal.

The DC confirmed that he has directed Sirsa SDM Rahul Hooda to initiate steps under the Haryana Municipal Act 1973 in view of the memorandum submitted to him by dissident municipal councillors.

“As per the Municipal Act, 1973, the SDM has to give at least 15 days notice for calling a meeting of the Council for vote on the no-confidence motion against the MC chief. While signatures of one-third of the total councillors are required for submitting a memorandum of no-confidence motion, two-thirds of the total votes are required to remove the municipal chief,” the DC explained.

Earlier, 20 municipal councillors Randhir Singh (vice-chairman), Reena Sethi, Rekha Sukhralia, Suman Sharma, Manoj Makani, Narain Pal Singh, Mahavir Singh, Jashan Insan, Renu Bala, Renu Baror, Asha Rani, Baljit Kaur, Khyali Ram, Neetu Soni, Gian Devi, Rajesh Gujjar, Rohtash Verma, Suman Bamnia, Sunita Bishnoi and Sudesh Kumari Dabur met the DC and submitted a memorandum expressing lack of confidence in Sheela Sehgal. The dissidents also claimed the support of another MC, Sunil Bahal, but he could not appear before the DC as he was out of town.

“Development activity in our wards has come to a standstill after Sheela Sehgal was elected on December 10, 2016. She is not able to take any decision on her own as her husband calls the shots in the municipal council,” alleged councillor Neetu Soni.

Despite several attempts, Sheela Sehgal could not be contacted. Her husband Prem Sehgal alleged that a few councillors were misguiding the others against the MC chief. He denied allegations of any laxity in development works on the part of his wife.