1 week ago
Ludhiana MC Clash Delays Vote for Powerful Finance Panel
Ludhiana’s city council was trying to choose two members for an important finance committee.
The committee helps decide projects, tenders and contracts.
Councillors from the Aam Aadmi Party and Bharatiya Janata Party argued about how the election should happen.
The argument became a physical fight, so police stepped in.
A court had ordered the election after two earlier appointments were challenged.
AAP put forward the same two councillors again.
Other parties want a secret vote and more rules about who can vote.
The election will be held on August 29.
AAP has the most councillors, but disagreements inside the party could affect the result.
AAP and BJP councillors came to blows during Tuesday’s Ludhiana Municipal Corporation House meeting, prompting police intervention.
The dispute concerned the election of two members to the Finance and Contracts Committee under Punjab and Haryana High Court directions.
AAP has re-nominated Aman Bagga Khurana and Yuvraj Singh Sidhu after their earlier direct appointments were challenged and cancelled.
Opposition councillors demanded secret voting, videography and clarity over whether MLAs and the mayor could vote.
The election is scheduled for August 29, with nominations closing Tuesday and withdrawals ending August 28.
- Who
- AAP and BJP councillors were involved in the physical confrontation; Congress and other opposition councillors also challenged the election process.
- What
- A dispute over electing two Finance and Contracts Committee members became physical and delayed the vote.
- Where
- The Ludhiana Municipal Corporation House meeting was held at Guru Nanak Bhawan in Ludhiana, Punjab.
- When
- The confrontation occurred Tuesday; voting is scheduled for August 29, with withdrawals ending August 28.
- Why
- The parties are competing for influence over a committee responsible for major development works, tenders, contracts and other financial decisions, while implementing a High Court order.
AAP’s Position
Opposition’s Position
Election procedure
AAP’s Position
AAP is proceeding with the court-ordered election and has re-nominated Aman Bagga Khurana and Yuvraj Singh Sidhu.
Opposition’s Position
BJP and Congress councillors objected to the process and sought a secret ballot instead of a show of hands, along with videography of voting and counting.
Eligibility to vote
AAP’s Position
The mayor cited a 1997 instance in which MLAs participated, while AAP MLA Ashok Prashar said the matter would be decided according to the Municipal Corporation Act.
Opposition’s Position
Opposition councillors argued that the current Municipal Corporation Act does not provide for legislators to vote and questioned whether the mayor could vote as election officer.
Political advantage
AAP’s Position
AAP’s 49 councillors give it the largest bloc, but the party must manage reported internal dissent and may need additional votes to secure both seats.
Opposition’s Position
BJP and Congress are seeking to use AAP’s internal disagreements to challenge its control of the committee despite AAP’s numerical advantage.
Key facts
- Committee
- The Finance and Contracts Committee handles major development works, tenders, contracts and other financial decisions.
- House strength
- AAP has 49 councillors, BJP has 18, SAD has two and one Independent supports the BJP; reports differ on Congress’s strength, giving either 24 or 25 councillors.
- AAP nominees
- AAP has re-nominated Aman Bagga Khurana and Yuvraj Singh Sidhu.
- Earlier appointments
- Mayor Inderjit Kaur directly nominated the two councillors in June, but Congress councillor Gaurav Bhatti challenged the appointments in the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
- Election schedule
- Nominations were due by 5 p.m. Tuesday, withdrawals close August 28 and voting is scheduled for August 29.
- Opposition request
- Forty-five opposition councillors sought secret voting, videography of voting and counting, and timely notice to eligible councillors.
- Legal issue
- The parties disputed whether MLAs may vote and whether Mayor Inderjit Kaur would vote while serving as election officer.
Quotes
Ojasvi Alankar
Ludhiana Municipal Corporation commissioner
“As per the High Court directions, the nominations have been started and the voting will be held on August 29.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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