Ahmedgarh MC chief election postponed as SDM proceeds on medical leave

Mahesh Sharma

Mandi Ahmedgarh, July 17

The administration has postponed the special meeting of the Ahmedgarh Municipal Council, which was scheduled to be held for electing its president and vice-president on Thursday.

Non-availability of the designated official to convene the meet was cited to be the reason behind the postponement of the event till a new date was fixed.

While the aspirants for the post of president and vice president were conducting parleys of meetings, they were disappointed to learn that the special meeting called for purpose had been postponed.

Decision to stagger the meeting was taken by Deputy Commissioner Pallavi after Ahmedgarh SDM and convener of the meeting Gurmit Bansal proceeded on medical leave till July 22.

“According to information provided by SDM Ahmedgarh, the meeting was scheduled to be held on July 18. As the SDM has proceeded on medical leave till July 22, the process for the said election should be staggered for the time being,” read the communiqué written by Malerkotla DC to Executive Officer Municipal Council Ahmedgarh on Tuesday. The EO was also advised to inform legislator Jaswant Singh Gajjanmajra (associate member) and all the 17 councillors about the development.

Around thirty months after the constitution of the AAP government, residents had hoped to get a president of municipal council who would fetch adequate grants for development works at the town from the government.

Though the administration had called a meeting for Thursday, the same has now been staggered after the convener of the scheduled meeting proceeded on medical leave.

Moreover, the arrest of associate member of the council and legislator Jaswant Singh Gajjanmajra by the Enforcement Directorate about nine months ago had also disrupted the pace of development works in the town.

Vikas Tandon, who was unanimously elected chief of the council during the Congress regime with the support of then MLA Surjit Singh Dhiman, was dethroned from the office by passing a no-confidence motion on February 16, 2023. The factionalism among Congress councillors that resulted in Tandon’s removal has also emerged as a major factor behind the ensuing situation wherein the council has been waiting for 17 months for election of a regular president.