City all set to get Mayor as councillors take oath today

Neeraj Bagga

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, January 22

With the oath-taking ceremony for the 85 newly-elected councillors slated for tomorrow, the heart pulsation among the local leaders has quickened as the name of the successful mayoral candidate is also likely to be announced during the ceremony. Karamjit Singh Sandhu Rintu, Mamta Dutta, Rajkanwal Preet Pal Singh Lucky and Yunus are among the probables who can be the Congress pick for the Mayor’s position.

The Capt Amarinder Singh government has appointed Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa, Minister for Rural Development and Panchayats, as the observer of the ceremony, a move that has sparked conjectures and rumours in the political circles regarding “sidelining” of Local Bodies Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu.

When mediapersons questioned Sidhu, who was in the city today, he replied, “I will abide by the decision of the Chief Minister whosoever he recommends as the Mayor of the holy city.”

He, however, added that he would not attend the oath-taking ceremony without invitation.

His bête noire, SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia, in a release issued here today, stated Sidhu would soon loose his adopted party Congress. He added that keeping the Local Bodies Minister in the dark over the name of the mayoral candidate spoke volumes about it.

Meanwhile, MC Commissioner Sonali Giri said that as per the procedure, invitations were being sent to all ministers and officials.

The civic body elections were held about a month back but the oath was not administered to the councillors. The delay in the oath ceremony and announcement of the mayoral face apparently suggested towards intensive lobby for senior positions.

In order to tone down lobbying and division in the ranks, the Congress government is likely to announce Senior Deputy Mayor, Deputy Mayor and other eye-catching positions to adjust the maximum number of leaders.

The Congress had managed to gain majority in the polls but unanimity over the plum positions is not visible in its camp.

According to information, the MC office in Ranjit Avenue will conduct the ceremony and it will be administrated in the presence of Jalandhar Division Commissioner Raj Kamal Chaudhary.

Sources informed that the MC office in Amritsar had received a letter from the Jalandhar division about conducting the oath ceremony so the office had informed the newly-elected councillors about the event.

Meanwhile, MC Commissioner Sonali Giri, in a statement released to the press fraternity on social media, stated that no unauthorised person from the general public would be allowed at the ceremony. Besides, no mediaperson would be allowed inside the hall during the proceedings. Once the meeting gets over, a press briefing would be held so mediapersons may wait at the ground floor waiting hall, she stated.

“Kindly support us in upholding the law,” the MCCommissioner added.