AUTHOR VINAY KOCHHAR.AMRITSAR/CHANDIGARH.
The controversy over the election of Mayor, Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor in Amritsar Municipal Corporation is not taking the name of stopping. The double bench of Punjab and Haryana High Court will hear the matter again today (Thursday). On February 20, a bench of Justice Sudhir Singh and Sukhwinder Kaur had reserved the decision after hearing on it.
In the municipal elections held on 27 January 2025, Jitendra Singh Moti Bhatia was elected Mayor, Priyanka Sharma Senior Deputy Mayor and Anita Rani Deputy Mayor. But Congress councilor Vikas Soni had filed a petition in the High Court on January 28 demanding cancellation of the election. He alleges that despite the Congress having a majority, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government forcibly declared its candidates victorious.
Hearings so far in the High Court
On January 29, the double bench of the High Court heard the case for the first time, but no notice of motion was issued then. On February 10, the court announced that the notice of motion would be uploaded on February 11. The order decided to hold the next hearing on April 21. After this, the lawyers of Congress councilor Vikas Soni appealed for an early hearing, which was accepted and the hearing was scheduled for February 20.
Congress accused AAP of rigging the election
Congress has made serious allegations against the Aam Aadmi Party regarding the election process. Congress leaders had released videos and CCTV footage of voting and claimed that AAP councilors did not take oath during the swearing-in ceremony. This video was made on the orders of the High Court. Congress alleges that AAP ignored the court orders and forcibly swung the election in its favor.
Congress councillors claim that before the elections, a meeting of AAP leaders was held at MK Hotel in Amritsar, in which other officials including municipal corporation official Rajinder Sharma were also present. Congress alleged that apart from Amritsar, such rigging also took place in Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Phagwara and other districts during the elections.
Results of municipal elections
In the Amritsar Municipal Corporation elections held on 21 December 2024, Congress got 40 seats, Aam Aadmi Party got 24, BJP got 9, Akali Dal got 4 and independents got 8 seats. Later 7 independents and 2 BJP councillors joined AAP, while 1 independent joined Congress.
Position of Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor in limbo
Mayor Jitendra Singh Moti Bhatia took charge on January 28, but Senior Deputy Mayor Priyanka Sharma and Deputy Mayor Anita Rani have not yet taken charge. Now the situation will become clear only after the decision of the High Court.