Ludhiana Mayor comes to attend bhog in official car

Bathinda, January 8

Ludhiana Mayor Harcharan Singh Gohalwaria today openly flouted the model code of conduct as he reached Bathinda in his official Innova (PB 10 AP 0002) to attend a private function.

He also brought along a pilot Gypsy from Ludhiana. Even the name plate of the mayor and a flag were not removed from the car.

Gohalwaria remained in the city for around half an hour but the district administration didn’t get to know about the violation.

He came to attend the bhog ceremony of the mother of Bathinda Mayor Balwant Rai Nath.

As per the Election Commission, after the model code of conduct comes into effect, the mayor cannot take his official vehicle out of the city and can only use it from his residence to office.

For any personal function, he can’t take the pilot vehicle along with him. If any mayor gets pilot gypsy for security reason, he needs to get permission from the election authorities and police administration to take the vehicle along.

If any violation is noted, the Election Commission can seize the vehicle.

It is learnt that on the Innova car in which Gohalwaria came and the pilot gypsy belong to the Ludhiana MC.

Even the security guards present in the gypsy are the security men deputed with the Ludhiana MC.

District Election Officer-cum-Deputy Commissioner Gyansham Thori said the issue came to his notice through the media.

He has issued notice to the DSP 1 and 2 in this regard and has told them to submit a report after which action would be initiated.

Bathinda SDM Sakshi Sawhney said the mayor was not allowed to use his official vehicle for private function.

She said by the time she got to know about it, the mayor had gone back.

Harcharan Singh Gohalwaria could not be contacted over the issue. — TNS