6 months on, 2 posts vacant in Karnal MC

Parveen Arora

Tribune News Service

Karnal, June 16

Almost six months have passed since the election of the mayor and councillors of the Karnal Municipal Corporation, but the poll for the posts of senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor are yet to be conducted.

Sources in the ruling party have said that the election for both the posts would be conducted after the Assembly elections.

Commissioner Rajiv Mehta had called a meeting in this regard on February 25, but due to non-availability of required number of members, the poll could not be held and no meeting for elections has been called thereafter.

In the 20-member House, the BJP has 18 councillors. Its leaders are hopeful that a unanimous decision would be taken in their favour for both the posts.

Since the mayor is from the Aggarwal community, the post of the senior deputy mayor may go to a Punjabi, for which the BJP has a long list of aspirants. Rajesh Aghi, Megha Bhandari, Mukesh Arora, Vir Vikram Kumar, Ish Gulati, Sudarshan Kalra and Ramanjeet Kaur are among the aspirants. Monika Garg, daughter-in-law of former senior deputy mayor Krishan, is also an aspirant for the post, sources in the party claimed.

They say to make a caste equation in the House, the deputy mayor post may go to any SC councillor, for which Rajni Parocha and Ram Chander Kala are in the race.

Mayor Renu Bala Gupta said it was the right of the councillors to elect their representatives. “We will hold a meeting whenever they ask for it,” she said, while denying the rumours that the election would be held after the Assembly poll.

Caste at play 

• In the 20-member House, the BJP has 18 councillors 
• Since the mayor is from the Aggarwal community, the post of the senior deputy mayor may go to a Punjabi, for which the BJP has a long list of aspirants 
• The post of the deputy mayor post may go to any SC councillor, for which Rajni Parocha and Ram Chander Kala are in the race