Amritsar: Priyanka likely to take office as senior deputy mayor soon

After the appointment of former Mayor Karamjit Singh Rintu as Chairman of the Amritsar Improvement Trust (AIT), Senior Deputy Mayor Priyanka Sharma is expected to assume her office soon. Sharma, a key member of the Rintu faction in the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), had expressed resentment over not being appointed as the city’s Mayor. Since the mayoral election on January 27, she has refrained from taking charge of her position.

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The election for the Amritsar Municipal Corporation was held on December 22, followed by the swearing-in ceremony on January 27, where the ruling AAP announced Jatinder Singh Moti Bhatia as Mayor, Priyanka Sharma as Senior Deputy Mayor and Anita Rani as Deputy Mayor. However, this announcement led to political turmoil, as Sharma, who had been a strong contender for the mayoral post, was reportedly unhappy with the party’s decision.

The mayoral election also faced legal challenges. The Congress party termed the election unconstitutional and filed a petition in the High Court, demanding a re-election. Meanwhile, Rintu and Sharma were dissatisfied with AAP’s decision, as she had played a crucial role in securing the support of independent councillors for the party. Despite Jatinder Singh Moti assuming office as Mayor on January 28, Priyanka Sharma had yet to take charge as Senior Deputy Mayor.

According to the information during the swearing-in ceremony, Priyanka Sharma had reportedly come fully prepared to assume the mayor’s position. She had the backing of Karamjit Singh Rintu and Ritesh Sharma, who played a key role in mobilizing councillors in favor of AAP. However, after the unexpected decision to appoint Bhatia as Mayor, Rintu and the Sharma expressed their displeasure and walked out of the venue immediately. As a mark of protest, Sharma refused to assume her designated post. This sparked speculation that Priyanka Sharma may left the post.

Later in an apparent bid to pacify the faction, AAP leadership appointed Rintu as Chairman of AIT. Now, with his appointment, sources indicate that Sharma is likely to assume office as Senior Deputy Mayor in the coming days, along with Anita Rani as Deputy Mayor.