Elections to the posts of senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor of Panchkula have been deferred on the eleventh hour on Monday because the returning officer (RO) for the polls was taken in poor health. The event is a stark reminder of scenes witnessed earlier this yr in neighbouring Chandigarh when AAP and Congress councillors had reached the voting venue on January 18 solely to know that the mayoral elections had been postponed as then presiding officer Anil Masih had taken in poor health.
On Monday, after all of the councillors reached the venue in Sector 14 amid the preparations for polling, they have been knowledgeable that the Joint Commissioner Simranjeet Kaur, who can also be the returning officer of the election, fell in poor health.
Panchkula Mayor Kulbhushan Goyal, MLA Chander Mohan all had reached the venue earlier than the elections have been postponed.
Within the 20-member home of the Panchkula Municipal Company, 11 councillors are of the BJP, eight are of the Congress, and one of many JJP. Mayor Goyal is the twenty first member in the home. However he’ll vote provided that there’s a tie within the voting by 20 members of the civic physique.
Sources stated even because the BJP had the numbers on Monday, it was anticipating cross voting.
The elections for the posts of mayor and councillors have been held in 2020, whereas the senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor weren’t elected. The BJP then didn’t announce any candidate for the 2 posts of deputy mayor and senior deputy mayor that have been to be elected on Monday. Panchkula MLA Congress’s Chander Mohan additionally reached the spot for the elections.
Panchkula Mayor Kulbhushan Goyal instructed The Indian Specific that when he reached there, he received to know in regards to the elections being deferred. When requested in regards to the new date of elections, he stated: “we’re but to get it. It is going to be introduced quickly”.
Homicide of democracy: Congress
After the elections have been postponed on the final minute, it evoked allegations from Congress that it was a “ploy” by the BJP because the saffron celebration was “not sure of its victory”.
MLA Chander Mohan stated that the BJP is fearful of its loss and knew that its personal councillors won’t assist the celebration.
“The RO fell in poor health simply thirty minutes again. That is how democracy is murdered,” he added. Congress councillors additionally alleged that BJP was following its playbook seen throughout mayoral elections in Chandigarh earlier this yr, highlighting that there too the election official had fallen in poor health minutes previous to the polls.
Solely final evening, Congress councillor Suneet Singla returned to the BJP, his unique celebration. JJP councillor Sushil Garg and Impartial councillor Omwati Punia additionally lent assist to the ruling celebration at an occasion held on the Haryana CM’s residence, making the saffron celebration maintain the sting on the municipal company.
Earlier than the councillors have been to modify, Congress had a majority within the Common Home of the Panchkula Municipal Company. Whereas the BJP had eight councillors, the Congress had 9 members, together with assist of Impartial candidate Omwati Punia. The JJP had two councillors earlier than Garg joined the saffron celebration.
