March 12, 2015 by admin

Free-for-all at MC chief’s election in Faridkot

Faridkot,
A meeting convened to conduct elections to various posts in the local municipal committee had to be postponed indefinitely amid ruckus created by two rival Akali factions here today.
The elected councillors came under attack from the supporters of one of the Akali groups who wanted their man elected as the president.
The supporters broke the barricades put up around the building where the meeting was held, barged into the hall, overturned tables, threw chairs at their opponents and broke the furniture. The police presence did not prove any deterrent for the supporters.
In the 25-member House, the SAD had won eight seats while four each went to the BJP and the Congress. The rest nine were won by Independents.
The elections to the posts of president and vice-president had to be postponed two days ago as well. Then too the councillors had remained divided over the choice of candidates.
Faridkot MLA Deep Malhotra today claimed having the support of 15 members, three each of the SAD and BJP and the nine Independents, to get his aide elected as the president. But the proposal was opposed by the rival Akali faction.
Malhotra’s rivals accused him of kidnapping the BJP members to elicit their support for his candidate. The MLA denied the charge. “The proceedings were disrupted after some leaders in Faridkot saw that their candidate could not win,” said the MLA.
While Malhotra accused the police of not acting against those who disrupted the meeting, SSP Charanjit Singh claimed the situation was controlled without the use of any force.
Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Tayyab and VK Sayal, presiding officer-cum-SDM, Faridkot, said the meeting had to be postponed due to the unruly scenes.