Uncertainty over Chandigarh MC meeting on budget

Sandeep Rana

Chandigarh, March 4

A special House meeting on budget scheduled for March 6 has been opposed by the BJP, which says a meeting of the Finance and Contract Committee (F&CC) should be held first to pass the agenda for the special meeting.

Top city BJP leaders held a meeting in this regard today. They decided to take up the issue with the Secretary, Local Government (SLG), i.e. Home Secretary. “We will request him to stop this meeting as it is against the norms. The budget has always been discussed by the F&CC before being tabled in the House,” said a party councillor.

City BJP president Jatinder Pal Malhotra said, “The MC has certain set of rules and it should be run as per these. It should not be run according to the whims and fancies of senior AAP leaders. I am going to take up this issue with the SLG.”

However, Mayor Kuldeep Kumar Dhalor said, “The budget meeting has been called early so that the salaries of employees and other development expenditure do not get delayed. I will have to check about the rules.”

Holding an F&CC meeting is not going to be a cakewalk for the new Mayor. Before the meeting, he will have to form the committee. The panel has five members and they are elected through voting in the MC House. Since the BJP has the numbers, the INDIA bloc Mayor would find it tough getting the alliance’s councillors on the most powerful committee of the MC.

Free water, parking likely to be tabled at March 7 meet

The first House meeting has been planned for March 7, following the budget meeting. Agenda items such as free 20,000 litre water per household per month and free parking in MC’s lots are expected to be tabled that day. Another House meeting is being planned for March 12.

While AAP seems to be in a hurry calling House meetings, the BJP hopes things get delayed as model code of conduct for the LS poll is expected to be put in force soon.