Now, Srinagar MC Mayor likely to be removed

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, December 24

Mayor of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) Junaid Azim Mattoo is likely to be removed from his post after the BJP and PDP councillors jointly moved a no-confidence motion against him on Tuesday.

At least 42 councillors of the BJP and PDP stormed the SMC secretariat on Tuesday and raised slogans against Mattoo, seeking his removal.

“A no-confidence motion, signed by 42 councillors has been moved against Mattoo,” said SMC Commissioner Khurshid Sanai.

Mattoo, who got elected from the Sajad Lone-led People’s Conference (PC), has been facing revolt from the BJP councillors in the 70-member SMC.

The PC was an ally of the BJP in last elected PDP-BJP coalition government of the erstwhile state of J&K.

However, he managed to stitch an alliance with the Congress and National Conference on Monday to prove his support. He along with 47 councillors moved a no-confidence motion against his deputy Sheikh Imran and dislodged him.

“On Monday, 47 councillors supported our motion. It can’t go on forever. If the SMC Commissioner supports the fresh motion of 42 councillors of the 70-member corporation, then there has to be fresh elections,” said Peer Lateef, a confidante of Mattoo.

“How can in the 70-member SMC, 47 councillors support us and 42 oppose us?” Lateef asked.

The SMC is likely to decide over the fresh motion backed by 42 councillors on Thursday.

Imran was removed from his post on Monday after 23 councillors from the, 17 from the Congress and some Independents forged an alliance and moved a no-confidence motion against him. However, they unanimously decided to support Mattoo.

The PC had only 15 councillors when the municipal polls were held in November 2018. However, more councillors joined them, taking the number of councillors with the PC to 23.