Tribune News Service
Bathinda, October 15
Independent councillor Balwinder Singh on Monday became the new president of the Budhlada Nagar Council (NC) in Mansa district. The top post got vacated after the death of Nagar Council chief Harvinder Singh Bunty.
Councillor Vivek Jalan proposed the name of Balwinder Singh, which was supported by councillor Prem Garg. Subsequently, all the councillors extended their support to him and he was unanimously elected the president of the Nagar Council. Budhlada MLA Budh Ram was also present on the occasion.
Akali leader Harvinder Singh Bunty had allegedly committed suicide by consuming some poisonous substance at a pesticide shop at Budhlada on August 28, a day before he was to face a vote no-trust motion in the Nagar Council. He was apparently depressed due to the allegations of corruption being levelled against him.
Later, the police booked 15 persons, including two lawyers, on the charge of abatement to suicide. Most of those booked were members of the Nagar Sudhar Sabha, which was constituted to wage a struggle for the town’s development. Bunty’s family members had alleged that he resorted to the extreme step after he was humiliated by some political leaders.