Cong waiting for notification to elect Phagwara mayor: MLA
Amidst rumours of a few newly elected Congress Municipal Corporation (MC) councillors joining the AAP, Phagwara Congress MLA Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal has outrightly rejected the claim and said that the party is strong as a rock and completely united.
Talking to The Tribune here on Wednesday evening, Dhaliwal said the Congress was waiting for the notification for electing mayor.
Dhaliwal alleged that AAP leaders were hiding themselves from the party high command and misleading it after facing defeat in the civic body polls.
He said the Congress had won 22 seats, besides three seats, with its alliance partner BSP in the MC polls.
As the MLA had the right to vote, so the Congress had majority in the MC House with 26 seats out of total 50 wards in its kitty, he said while adding that the party also had the support of two to three Independent candidates.
Dhaliwal, however, said the party would elect its mayor immediately after notification was released by the state government.
When contacted, Amit Kumar Panchal, Deputy Commissioner, Kapurthala, said Additional Deputy Commissioner had sent party-wise details of candidates, who in the Municipal Corporation elections, to the state Election Commissioner.
According to sources, three-time councillors Ram Paul Uppal, Sanjeev Bugga and Padam Dev Sudhir (Nikka) could be considered as main aspirants for the post of Mayor. Uppal won the Municipal Corporation elections in 2008, 2015 and 2024; Sanjeev Bugga and Padam Dev Sudhir in 2002, 2015 and 2024.
