Panchkula MC poll put off as returning officer taken ill

The elections to the posts of Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor were deferred at the eleventh hour today after the returning officer, Municipal Joint Commissioner Simranjit Kaur, was taken ill. The Congress alleged the elections were put off as the BJP’s defeat was imminent. The new date for the elections is yet to be announced.

The elections were to be held at the Kisan Bhawan in Sector 14. All 20 councillors — 11 of the BJP, eight of the Congress and one of the JJP —and Mayor Kulbhushan Goyal were present there. Congress MLA Chander Mohan was also present when Simranjit Kaur was suddenly taken ill and had to be hospitalised. The Mayor, while talking to media persons, said, “All our councillors, along with nominated ones, were present for the elections. But the RO was taken ill and had to be hospitalised.”

The MLA, who was accompanied by the Congress councillors, later said, “They have declared her ill, though the returning officer was healthy and fine only half an hour ago.” The BJP was apparently afraid of holding the elections, he added.

Congress councillor Salim Dabkouri said, “All our councillors had turned up for the elections. Even the BJP councillors were also present. But suddenly, the announcement of not holding the elections was made. The moment the RO took ill, the MC Commissioner, who was present there, could have deputed another official to hold the elections. There were two AROs to assist the RO. But the officials failed to do so merely because the BJP was scared of cross-voting by its own councillors.” Another councillor said, “We do not understand whether the RO was sent to the hospital by someone or she went there on her own. But not holding the elections is clearly a murder of democracy. This is a clear indication that the BJP wants to indulge in horse-trading, while it does not trust its own councillors. Maybe, they fear cross-voting by their own councillors.” Another councillor said, “During the Chandigarh MC polls in January, the RO was taken ill at the last hour. The BJP was in a tight situation at that time as well and used this tactic to defer the polls. Later, the political parties had to move court for relief.”

Councillors switching sides

Earlier, the BJP was in majority with the support of two JJP councillors. With the party snapping ties with the BJP months before the Lok Sabha elections, its councillors started jumping ship before the Assembly polls in September. Ward No. 13 councillor Suneet Singla and Ward No. 19 representative Paramjeet Kaur quit the BJP to join the Congress. Independent Councillor Omvati Punia, who yesterday joined the BJP, had supported Congress candidate Chander Mohan in the Assembly polls. Yesterday, Punia, Suneet Singla and JJP councillor Sushil Garg shifted to the BJP. The parties are wary of horse-trading as the next date of the polls is yet to be announced.

Will file contempt petition: Chander Mohan

MLA Chander Mohan said he had paid a visit to the Civil Hospital, Sector 6, at 11.30 am. “But we did not find the Returning Officer being treated there. Her name was not on the list of Emergency patients. This clearly shows that the BJP is trying to win the elections by using money and intimidating the councillors. We will file a contempt-of-court petition.”