Congress attains majority in Panchkula civic body
The tables in Panchkula Municipal Corporation have turned. Holding a majority since the formation of the MC House, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) now stands in minority as two of its councillors, along with an independent one, are now part of the Congress brigade.
The list of those who made the shift to Congress includes an independent councillor from Ward 11, Omwati Punia, who made a switch before the announcement of the Assembly elections. Ward 13 councillor Suneet Singla and Ward 19 councillor Paramjeet Kaur both quit the BJP and joined the Congress party. Kaur joined the Congress party in the presence of Chander Mohan and other leaders on Friday night.
As of date, the Congress holds a majority with 10 councillors, while the number of councillors from the BJP has been reduced to eight. The JJP continues with two councillors.
The Panchkula Municipal Corporation elections took place in December 2020. BJP, holding an upper hand, had 10 councillors, apart from the elected mayor. They were then joined by Jannayak Janata Party’s two councillors. The Congress took up the role of the opposition with seven councillors. While Ward 19 councillor Paramjeet Kaur, who had contested as an independent, had joined the BJP, Omwati Punia of Ward 11 continued to function as an independent.
Punia, however, joined the Congress before the announcement of the Assembly elections in 2024. Only a week ago, Ward 13 councillor Sunit Singla met Congress leader Bhupinder Singh and also joined the Congress party. Following him, Paramjeet Kaur also made a switch on Friday.
A communication from the Congress party in Panchkula on Saturday said the developments had taken place after Chander Mohan became the party’s candidate for the Assembly seat.
The party claimed the joining of three councillors in the Congress party would have a direct effect on the upcoming elections of Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor.
Paramjeet Kaur’s husband, Gurmeet Singh Nambardar, speaking on her behalf, said they joined the Congress party as the BJP government had failed to carry out works in their area. “Dejected, we joined the Congress party,” he said.