PHAGWARA: Amidst rumors of joining few newly elected MC of Congress in AAP, Phagwara Congress MLA Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal has outrightly rejected and claimed that Congress in Phagwara is as strong as rock and completely united.
While Dhaliwal told this correspondent here on Wednesday Evening that congress party is waiting for the notification, new developments are reported that AAP is trying to get support from SAD and BJP to elect its Mayor.
He said that congress has won 22 seats besides 3 seats of its alliance partner BSP and moreover MLA has also right to vote, thus Congress has majority of 26 seats out of total 50 wards whereas Congress Party has getting support of 2-3 independent candidates.
Dhaliwal however said that the party will elect its Mayor Candidate immediate after the release of notification.
When contacted Deputy Commissioner Kapurthala Amit Kumar Panchal told This correspondent that Additional Deputy Commissioner Bajwa has sent the details of winners party wise to the state election commissioner.
Meanwhile This correspondent has learnt that Three times elected councilors Ram Paul Uppal, Sanjeev Bugga, Padam Dev Sudhir(Nikka) could be considered as main aspirants for the post of Mayor.
Uppal won the MC elections in the year 2008, 2015 and 2024, Sanjeev Bugga and Padam Dev Sudhir Nikka won in 2002, 2015, 2024 , whereas elected congress councilor Munish Prabhakar who won in the year 2015 and 2024 while Sushil Maini won in the year 2002 and 2024 are also in the race.
In a related development AAP is exploring forming alliance with SAD and BJP to prevent Congress from electing its mayor.
It was reliably learnt that Shiromani Akali Dal may support AAP to form the new MC in Phagwara.
AAP has won 12 seats— plus one Harpreet Singh hogal(ind from Ward no 10) who joined AAP
SAD has won 3 seats---- Wards no 9, 37, 40
BJP has won 4 seats-----Wards no 3, 6, 22, 48
When contacted SAD Halka Incharge Ranjit SinghKhurana said that SAD can join hands with any political party to prevent the congress from forming MC in Phagwara, but the final decision would be taken by SAD high command only.
It was learnt that AAP Leaders like Joginder Singh Maan are contacting all Anti-Congress parties including independent candidates to bring them on one platform against the congress.