Chandigarh Mayoral poll: Day after clash, Jasbir Singh Bunty says he is with Congress
Chandigarh, January 17
A day after high-voltage drama outside the Municipal Corporation office, Congress councillor Jasbir Singh Bunty said today that he was with the party even as the MC Joint Commissioner requested him to visit the office regarding the withdrawal of his candidature for the post of Mayor.
Bunty, along with his father and party leaders, had yesterday visited the MC office to withdraw his nomination. But leaders of the BJP and the Congress-AAP alliance came to blows claiming his loyalties, causing unprecedented chaos at the MC premises. Bunty posed with Congress leaders at his Attawa house this morning.
Speaking with Chandigarh Tribune over the phone, Bunty said, “I am with the Congress and senior party leader Bansal saab. My father got tensed yesterday as he was under pressure. Now, I am at my house with our party leaders.”
Bunty’s father, who yesterday accused the Congress of not letting his son leave, today said, “I got nervous thinking my son was in trouble. Our families and I have been associated with the Congress for a long time and will always stay with the party.”
City Congress chief HS Lucky, who was present at Bunty’s house, said, “The BJP tried to create issues and take him away forcibly. He has again reiterated he is with the Congress.”
Former Congress MP Pawan Kumar Bansal was also at his house. “The BJP should have respectfully accepted its imminent defeat, rather than adopting all these tactics,” he said
Meanwhile, in another interesting development today, MC Joint Commissioner today requested Bunty to appear for “verification” and “genuineness” regarding the withdrawal of his nomination papers, which were submitted to the staff members yesterday. But he did not appear before the official.
Lucky said the Congress had withdrawn Bunty’s nomination of mayor’s post twice and if needed, the party would do it on the day of polling. The party withdrew the nomination after it was decided Kuldeep Dhalor (Tita) of AAP will be the candidate for the Mayor’s post under INDIA bloc.
