Fearing debacle, Congress not fighting MC poll on symbol: CM

Shiv Kumar Sharma

Tribune News Service

Yamunanagar, December 9

Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said that the Congress has decided not to contest the Municipal Corporation elections on its symbol as it feared a debacle in the election.

“The development undertaken by the BJP government in the state made the Congress leave the fray. Therefore, it neither fielded candidates for the post of councillors nor made nominations for the post of mayor,” claimed Khattar.

He addressed a public meeting in Yamunanagar on Sunday to campaign in favour of party mayoral candidate Madan Chauhan and candidates for the post of councillors fielded in 22 wards of Municipal Corporation, Yamunanagar-Jagadhri.

The public meeting was attended by Haryana Assembly Speaker Kanwar Pal Gurjar, Ambala MP Ratan Lal Kataria, Haryana Urban Local Bodies Minister Kavita Jain, Yamunanagar MLA Ghanshyam Das Arora, Radaur MLA Shyam Singh Rana, Sadhaura MLA Balwant Singh, BJP district president Mohinder Khadri and district general secretary Rajesh Sapra.

Khattar said that the INLD had split into two and they were struggling for political survival.

“With the division in the INLD, it seems that there will be no Opposition party in the Haryana Assembly in the future,” said Khattar.

While exhorting party workers and leaders, he said that only five days were left to campaign in favour of party candidates as polling would take place on December 16. Therefore, they should go to the voters and seek votes for the BJP telling them about the developmental works undertaken by the BJP government.

“The BJP is confident about its win in the Municipal Corporation elections. Therefore, it is fighting the elections on party symbol,” said Khattar.

He said that they had taken the decision of holding direct election for the post of mayor in the state. Now, the mayor would be elected by thousands of voters directly and not by a handful of elected municipal councillors.

“The decision of holding direct election of mayor will stop horse trading and curb corruption,” said Khattar.

He said that his government had focused on eradicating corruption, providing good health and education services to the residents and roof to poor people.

“Earlier, government jobs were sold. Now, even the children of poor are also getting jobs on merit basis,” claimed Khattar.