Explainer: Dispute between Cong MLA, BJP councillors hots up

THE war of words between the Thanesar Congress MLA and BJP councillors of the Thanesar Municipal Council are getting shriller. After the meeting on May 23, in which a scuffle broke out between the MLA and the husband of a BJP councillor, tight security arrangements were made to avoid untoward incidents at the meeting scheduled to be held on May 28. However, the meeting was cancelled at the last moment due to unavailability of the Executive Officer and Secretary of the municipal council, while the MLA, chairperson and councillors had already reached there to attend the meeting.

What had happened at the meeting hall on May 23?

A scuffle broke out between Congress MLA Ashok Arora and Narinder Sharma, husband of a BJP councillor, following a spat before the House meeting. As the situation went out of control and the BJP councillors and their supporters raised slogans against the MLA, the meeting was called off. Later they met senior police officials and sought action against each other.

 What was the reason behind the spat?

The spat broke out between the MLA and the husband of the BJP councillor over the presence of unauthorised persons inside the meeting hall. Thanesar MLA Ashok Arora had raised question over the presence of unauthorised persons while a letter was issued by the Executive Officer of the municipal council, instructing the councillors that as per the directions of the Urban Local Bodies Department, relatives of elected women representatives should not be allowed to attend the meeting of the House.

How did the situation go that far?

Congress MLA Ashok Arora and former municipal councillor Narinder Sharma had been close associates for over two decades, however during the civic body election, Sharma joined the BJP and his wife became the municipal councillor. Before the House meeting, a verbal spat between them took an ugly turn and after personal allegations, a scuffle broke out. Meanwhile, the other BJP councillors and their supporters came in support of Sharma and the situation went out of control. Of 32 members in the House, 25 belong to the BJP.

What does the MLA claim?

The MLA claimed that he had no personal agenda or conflict with any councillor. However, he believed that some people in the ruling party were not comfortable with the fact that the MLA was attending the House meeting, raising questions over the functioning of the council and exposing alleged corrupt practices in the municipal council. He also claimed that he had only asked the Executive Officer about the implementation of the instructions issued regarding presence of unauthorised persons at the meeting.

What do the BJP councillors demand?

The BJP councillors and their supporters said the MLA wanted to dominate the meeting. The relatives of the councillors used to attend the meetings in the past too but no objection was ever raised. They also accused the MLA of using abusive language in the presence of women councillors, and demanded a written apology from the MLA.