Southern societies to fight MCpoll

Sandeep Rana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 3

Having lost all hopes from political parties, residents’ bodies of southern housing societies have decided to contest the forthcoming Municipal Corporation elections to be held in December.

In a consequential move, presidents and secretaries of housing societies spread across Sectors 48 to 51 under the aegis of Voice of Housing Societies (VOHS), in a meeting held today, decided to field independent candidates from two wards. These societies fall under these two wards. At present, BJP leaders, who live in other sectors, are councillors from these two wards.

“It was the general impression among the gathering that the elected representatives of the area have miserably failed to protect the interests of society dwellers. The conduct of these politicians was criticised by one and all. It was a general consensus among the people that we are fed up with the political parties, which only look after their own interests. We have completely lost any faith in the parties or their representatives. Therefore, it was decided that the VOHS will field its own candidate from our wards in the MC elections,” said MN Shukla, Convener, VOHS.

There are around 108-110 societies in these sectors. The VOHS had extended invitation to city BJP president Arun Sood and two area councillors for today’s meeting. However, the idea was dropped due to widespread resentment among people. “The trio was informed about it yesterday evening because we do not want assurances anymore. We want to see the work done now,” said Shukla.

Their major issues include charging stamp duty for sub-lease deed/sub-conveyance deeds, non-issue of completion certificate even after two decades of societies’ existence, justified/excessive unearned increase, including unreasonable GST, excessive water tariff, waste collection rates, internal maintenance of common services by the UT Administration and conversion of leasehold flats into freehold.

The VOHS has been raising these demands for the past couple of years, but to no avail. Members of these societies, who were protesting outside MP Kirron Kher’s residence in Sector 7 over these pending demands, were even detained by the police in September 2019.

At present, BJP’s Davesh Moudgil and Heera Negi come from these wards.

Councillor Moudgil, in whose ward Sector 48 falls, said: “I have brought this sector equal to the northern sectors in terms of development. Several works, including opening a model school, an 11-bed hospital, an open air theatre, a theme park, street food market and various internal developments, have been carried out here. In a democratic set-up, we cannot stop anyone from contesting elections. I have done whatever best I could.”