Cong wins Nadala MC chief poll, Khaira upbeat

After Shahkot, the Congress was able to have its Municipal Council chief even at Nadala on Monday amid drama and tension in this otherwise sleepy hamlet of the district.

The Congress had won six wards while AAP won four in the polling held on December 21. The eleventh ward was won by an Independent councillor, who came in support of the AAP faction. This morning as the meeting to elect the MC chief poll was held for the third time that too with the intervention of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Khaira faced some resistance as the tehsildar told him that he would not be allowed to vote. Khaira took along a copy of the Punjab Municipal Act to raise the issue that he could not be restrained from casting a vote.

Even before this, Khaira had put a post on Twitter saying that the marriage palace, owned by Congress councillor Manjit Kaur, had been sealed by MC officials at the behest of the Aam Aadmi Party leadership that was using its might to force the councillor to come to its side. He said the action just a day ahead of the polling was questionable.

At 11 am, Khaira went live on Facebook as he was being restrained from entering the hall where the election was to take place. Khaira had to struggle and argue with the officials before he was let in and even allowed to cast his vote. He and the councillors came out of the hall after the election in a triumphant mode and announced that they had finally made it. Baljit Kaur Walia was finally announced as the President and Sandeep Pasricha as the Vice-President.

Khaira made a victory speech, saying, "The election was held unopposed. The AAP had tried to create a lot of hurdles for us but we finally had our way. Our councillors had to face so much pressure ever since. This was not a small victory for us to rejoice. So, we shall celebrate." Amid drum beating, showering of petals and exchange of sweets, a roadshow was taken out in the town after which the winning team led by Khaira paid obeisance at a local gurdwara and a temple.