Phagwara MLA files plea in HC against mayoral elections

Only after 17 days of the mayoral elections in Phagwara held on February 1, Phagwara MLA Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal and Congress Councillor Sanjeev Bugga today knocked the doors of Punjab and Haryana High Court and filed a writ petition to challenge and set aside the elections for the posts of Mayor, Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor.

The petition was filed against the Chief Secretary, DGP, the Secretary, Local Bodies Department, Divisional Commissioner, Jalandhar, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Phagwara, Councillor Ravi Sidhu (Presiding Officer), Ram Pal Uppal, Tej Pal Basra and Vikki Sood (elected Mayor, senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor).

The petitioners have sought directions of the court for quashing the election process to the posts. They alleged that Uppal, Basra and Sood were illegally elected to their respective posts in an election process held in complete violation of the orders of the High Court on January 29. They alleged that 26 councillors raised hands in support of Congress candidate for Mayor post while Uppal got merely 24 votes but was declared elected by presiding officer.

They further alleged that no election for other posts could be held but later were announced winners by the presiding officer.

Petitioners' advocate Karanjot Singh Jhikka said the High Court had fixed the date of hearing on March 10 and directed the state government to file reply, counter affidavit and report of the observer.

Despite having majority, the Congress faced the defeat in the mayoral elections held in an auditorium in Phagwara on February 1.

Though Justic Harbans Lal (Retd) attended the election meeting as observer, appointed by the High Court, AAP Councillor Ravi Kumar, who was appointed the presiding officer, announced the victory of AAP Councillor Uppal as Mayor in 26-24 ratio of votes. After announcing the Mayor, all officials immediately left the venue.

On the other hand, all Congress councillors, led by Phagwara MLA Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal, were seen provoked and in resentment while coming out from the auditorium.

While talking to journalists, Dhaliwal in the presence of all Congress councillors, including Mayor candidate Sanjeev Bugga, alleged that after oath ceremony of two remaining councillors Davinder Sapra and his wife Rupali Sapra, the proceedings were started and Divisional Commissioner appointed AAP MC Ravi Kumar for further proceedings. One Congress Councillor Gurpreet Kaur Jandu did not attend the meeting.

Dhaliwal said firstly the Congress MCs were asked to raise their hands in support of Bugga and the counted number was 26. Dhaliwal said due to absent of one councillor the number of present MCs were 49, besides one vote of Dhaliwal himself as MLA.

Dhaliwal explained that later the presiding officer asked the councillors to raise the hand in support of AAP Mayor candidate Uppal. Dhaliwal alleged that of 50 voters, 26 had voted in support of Bugga so the remaining number was automatically 24 but the presiding officer declared that Uppal got 26 votes.

Though Dhaliwal claimed that no elections were held for Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor, AAP leaders announced that BSP MC Tej Pal Basra was elected the Senior Deputy Mayor and AAP MC Vikki Sood Deputy Mayor.

Dhaliwal alleged that despite High Court’s order nothing could be done transparently even the observer did not comment anything.