Panchkula Deputy Mayor, Senior Deputy Mayor elections deferred after returning officer takes ill

The elections for the posts of Deputy Mayor and Senior Deputy Mayor of Panchkula Municipal Corporation were deferred at the eleventh hour on Monday after the Returning Officer (RO) and Municipal Joint Commissioner Simranjit Kaur took ill, triggering allegations from the Congress fold.

The elections were to be held at Kisan Bhawan in Sector 14 in Panchkula. All 20 councillors, including 11 of the BJP, 8 of the Congress and one of the JJP, were present at the site. Panchkula Corporation Mayor Kulbhushan Goyal and Congress party MLA Chander Mohan were also present when Joint Commissioner Simranjit Kaur suddenly took ill and had to be hospitalised.

Mayor Goyal talking to media persons said, “All our councillors along with our nominated councillors were present for the elections. But the RO took ill and had to be hospitalised.”

MLA Chander Mohan leaving with the Congress councillors said the state government was in a flurry. “They have declared her ill, though only half an hour ago, the RO was healthy and fine,” he said.

Congress councillor Salim Dabkouri said, “We had come with preparations along with all our councillors, and were hoping the elections would be held. Suddenly, it was announced that the RO had taken ill. We do not understand whether the RO was sent to the hospital or she went there on her own. But this is clear murder of democracy.”

He said the BJP was scared their councillors could vote against their own candidates.