Ruckus in Chandigarh MC House over MPLAD fund inaugurations; AAP raises PU restructuring issue

The General House meeting of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation on Monday witnessed a ruckus and high drama over allegations by BJP councillors that they were not invited to inauguration functions of projects completed under the Member of Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) fund.

BJP councilors Gurbax Rawat and others raised the issue, claiming they were excluded from functions in their respective wards.

Rawat alleged that she was not invited to the inauguration of MPLAD-funded projects in her ward and presented photographs showing plaques where her name as the area councillor was missing. Other BJP councillors later echoed similar complaints.

Congress councillor Sachin Galav denied the allegations and countered that he, too, was never invited to functions organised in his ward when former MP Kirron Kher inaugurated projects.

Tensions escalated when BJP councillor Saurabh Joshi removed the nameplate placed on the seat of MP Manish Tewari in the House, claiming it was unnecessary since Tewari did not attend meetings. Galav entered the well and attempted to retrieve the nameplate, prompting other BJP councillors to intervene. This led to a free-for-all scene that lasted over ten minutes.

While reading MPLAD fund guidelines, Galav said that there is a provision for installing the MP’s plaque during project inaugurations.

Meanwhile, AAP councillor Jasbir Singh Ladi raised the issue of restructuring the Senate and Syndicate of Panjab University, Chandigarh.

Damanpreet Singh and other councillors also voiced similar concerns. However, the Mayor did not permit the discussion, stating that the matter was unrelated to the Municipal Corporation.