Three BJP-backed councillors switch loyalty to Cong

NURPUR, JANUARY 12

The BJP suffered a setback in forming urban local body in the neigbhouring Chuwari Nagar Panchayat in Chamba district as three of the elected BJP-supported councilors switched their loyalty to the Congress yesterday. Two Congress-supported candidates and five BJP-supported candidates were elected in the civic body elections held on Sunday. This nagar panchayat has seven wards and the post of chairperson has been reserved for a woman.

But amidst the changed political scenario three out of the five winner BJP supporters councilors extended their support in the formation of the Congress-supported nagar panchayat. All dissident BJP-supported councilors met the former local MLA Kuldeep Pathania who welcomed them saying that this would pave the way for the constitution of Congress-supported nagar panchayat.

Kusum Lata, one of the three councilors who switched sides, is set to be next chairperson of Chuwari nagar panchayat as she is the lone woman councilor among the five Congress-supported councilors. Her husband Sudesh Dhiman was vice president of the outgoing nagar panchayat. Two councilors Ranjna and Rekha have left in the BJP camp after the new political equation emerged yesterday. — OC