Akalis lobbying for MC posts

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, March 4

Since names for presidentship of the SAD-led municipal councils/corporations need to be cleared by SAD chief-cum-Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, senior Akali leaders are camping in Chandigarh, lobbying for their loyalists.

Leaders from Muktsar, including SAD’s district president Dyal Singh Kolianwali, Muktsar constituency in charge Kanwarjit Singh ‘Rozy’ Barkandi, ex-MLA Sukhdarshan Singh Mrar and Gidderbaha constituency in charge Hardeep Singh ‘Dimpy’ Dhillon are all in Chandigarh.

There are four contenders for the post of president, Muktsar Municipal Council- Kiranpal Kaur Mrar, daughter-in-law of ex-MLA Sukhdarshan Singh Mrar, three-time councillor Harpal Singh Bedi and two more, including a woman councillor. The SAD-BJP has won 24 of the 31 seats in the Muktsar MC.

The situation is almost the same in Malout where Ram Singh, former president of the Malout Municipal Council, Harpal Virdi and Pardeep Rassewatt are learnt to be the main contenders. In Malout, the SAD-BJP won 23 of the total 27 seats.

The situation in Gidderbaha is unclear. Two Independent councillors have announced support for the SAD, taking the tally to 10, one more than that of Congress (9). But the Congress camp is not sitting idle. The Congress leadership has decided to file a petition in the High Court tomorrow, seeking cancellation of election in one ward, on the plea that the winning candidate had been sentenced by a court about two years ago and that he had contested the election by furnishing ‘false’ information with the election authorities.

The Akali leaders are taking good care of the two Independents, who have reportedly been taken to Chandigarh to ensure they are not approached by another party. Sources said one of them was a Congress supporter earlier.