7 file nominations for MC finance & contract panel

Those who filed nominations are Chander Mukhi Sharma and Vijay Rana of the Congress,Harjinder Kaur of the Akali Dal,Sarita Devi of the BJP,independent candidate J S Kang and two nominated councillors Dr Neelam Malik and Dr A P Sanwaria.

In the past four years,the members of the F&CC have been selected by mutual understanding. Currently,there are two members each from the Congress and the Opposition and one nominated councillor. With equations changing this time in the wake of the mayoral elections,the number of candidates too has seen an increase.

Nominated councillor Dr A P Sanwaria said,“Generally the nominated councillors mutually decide on fielding one candidate. While I had announced my decision to file my nomination in December after asking all the other nominated councillors,the candidature of Dr Malik came as a surprise.”

During the mayoral elections,Congress councillor J S Kang had rebelled after not being selected by the party to contest for post of mayor. Thereafter he contested as an independent candidate,with the support of the BJP-Akali Dal combine and the nominated councillors. In fact,it was Dr Sanwaria who had proposed his name for the nomination.

Councillor Harjinder Kaur said,“I hope there is no election. It has been a tradition that F&CC members are decided mutually. We would be holding talks and are hopeful that some of the candidates would withdraw their nominations.”

One councillor said that if elections are held,it would be ensured that there is complete secrecy and that the incidents of the mayoral elections are not repeated.