BJP, Cong leaders trade barbs day after Panchkula MC election deferred
A day after elections to the posts of Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor were deferred at the eleventh hour, the Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders on Tuesday accused each other of trying to use money and pressure tactics to sway the polls.
Meanwhile, Congress councillors have sought from officials of Civil Hospital, Sector 6, CCTV footage of the returning officer, MC Joint Commissioner Simranjeet Kaur, visiting the health facility for a check-up.
The elections, which were to be held after a gap of three years and 10 months, were deferred on Monday after the returning officer was taken ill.
As per Mayor Kulbhushan Goyal, the Joint Commissioner had to be hospitalised. The Congress leaders and councillors alleged that the BJP lacked trust in its councillors.
From Councillor Salim Dabkouri to Panchkula MLA Chander Mohan all levelled various allegations against the BJP leaders.
The Congress leaders submitted a memorandum to the Mayor’s office. Congress leader and Ward No. 6 Councillor Pankaj said they had sought the CCTV footage of the Joint Commissioner’s visit from the hospital.
“We are sure that the BJP is behind the whole affair and is trying to affect the poll outcome. The Joint Commissioner was not found at the hospital when we visited there at 11.30 am on Monday. Therefore, we have sought the CCTV footage of her visit to the Civil Hospital,” he added.
The Congress councillors further alleged that the BJP, despite having numbers in its favour, was afraid of conducting the polls.
“They fear cross-voting by their own councillors and are now resorting to pressure tactics to win the polls,” a councillor said.
BJP leader and Mayor Kulbhushan Goyal, meanwhile, accused the Congress of exerting pressure and trying to abduct the saffron party’s councillors.
“The Congress has a record of using money and pressure tactics to sway elections in its favour. One of our councillors had to shift to Punjab to avoid being abducted a day before the elections,” he claimed.
Responding to Mayor Kulbhushan Goyal’s allegations, Congress Councillor Salim Dabkouri said, “In a BJP-ruled state they are alleging that the Congress leaders are trying to abduct their councillors. This is ridiculous. They can take a strict action in case they find any such activity. In fact, abduction and pressuring others are BJP’s tactics.”
He said the Congress councillors had sought a medico-legal report of the Joint Commissioner and had filed an RTI application with the Health Department demanding the details of her visit to the hospital.
Rejecting the Congress claims, Goyal said the BJP had majority in its favour and the party councillors were there to cast vote. “The Congress levels baseless allegations. The polls were deferred due to the Joint Commissioner’s illness,” he added.
Stating that the Joint Commissioner was on a three-day leave, Goyal said a fresh date for the elections was yet to be decided.
Mudslinging continues
A day before the election, one of our councillors had to shift to Punjab to avoid being abducted by Congress leaders. — Kulbhushan Goyal, Mayor & BJP leader
In a BJP-ruled state, they are alleging that the Congress leaders are trying to abduct their councillors. It is ridiculous. — Salim Dabkouri, Congress Councillor
