Barnala 14th town to get municipal corporation

Barnala has become the 14th town in the state to get a municipal corporation. The Cabinet on Tuesday approved the long-awaited upgrade, marking what residents and leaders alike called a “historic day” for the city. The city has a population of nearly 1.67 lakh.

Barnala has 31 municipal wards. The Congress earlier held a majority in the municipal council. However, the equations changed when president Gurjit Singh Aulakh, who won as a Congress councillor, joined AAP following a controversy in September last year ahead of the Barnala bypoll. The bypoll was, however, won by Congress candidate Kuldeep Singh Kala Dhillon after defeating AAP’s Harinder Singh Dhaliwal.

MC president Gurjit Singh Aulakh said, “Barnala will now get more funds for development. We are working on the ground, and with this upgrade, new schemes and projects will give the city a fresh push. I thank our party leadership, the state government, and congratulate the people of Barnala.”— TNS