Race for chairperson’s post hots up as Amanjot Ramoowalia quits

Akash Ghai

Tribune News Service

Mohali, November 3

After Amanjot Kaur Ramoowalia resigned from the post of the chairperson of the District Planning Committee, Mohali, on Thuesday, the race for the new chief has intensified.

Not only the post of the district planning committee chairman, a number of local Akali leaders are trying to grab the post of the halqa in-charge after it was vacated by Balwant Singh Ramoowalia, who joined the Uttar Pradesh (UP) Cabinet a few days ago.

The front runners for the post of the district planning committee are Gursev Singh Harpalpur, Shiromani Akali Dal working committee, Krishan Pal, a close associate of NK Sharma, Parminder Sohana, Kuldip Kaur Kang, president of the women wing of the SAD, and HS Prince, president of the Youth Congress (urban).

A senior Shiromani Akali Dal leader said the resignation of Amanjot was expected after her father joined the UP Cabinet. “Several SAD leaders have started eyeing for the post. Not only local Akali leaders but some outsiders are too trying to grab the position,” said the leader.

Fact file

Amanjot Kaur Ramoowalia remained on the post of District Planning Committee chief for around 21 months. She was appointed on January 10 last year after Harbhajan Singh Mann, a noted Punjabi singer,   resigned from it. BS Ramoowalia was instrumental in the appointment of Mann as he had helped Ramoowalia during his election campaign in the 2012 Assembly elections. Later, Mann put in his papers in December 2013 after differences over some issues with the Ramoowalia family. Notably, Mann and Amanjot Ramoowalia did not do anything remarkable for the district during their terms despite their claims of bringing a number of projects to Mohali.