The Patiala Municipal Corporation is headed for a crisis with BJP and Akali councillors trading charges against each other. The present crisis is likely to sour relations between the BJP and the SAD, which is already suffering a beating. While the BJP councillors and other leaders held a dharna outside the MC protesting the policies of Mayor Ajit Pal Singh Kohli, at least 18 Akali councillors got together in favour of the Mayor and countered the charges levelled against him.

The problem started during Monday’s boycott of the meeting of the General House of the corporation, when a number of ruling party councillors traded charges with Kohli.

Heated exchange of words had ensued during the meeting, after BJP’s senior Deputy Mayor Anil Bajaj sought details of expenses of developmental works out of CM’s Sangat Darshan Fund from the Mayor.

During the heated exchange of words, BJP’s councillor Seema Sharma had levelled allegations against Kohli for abusing her.

In a signed statement issued here on Tuesday, the councillors in favour of Kohli said that Sharma should take an oath in a religious place if there was any truth in her allegations. Incidentally, two of the BJP councillors — Pritpal Kaur and Harinder Kohli — have supported the Mayor.

Sources said that today’s dharna against the Mayor was initiated by the BJP and the present crisis is likely to affect the relations between the alliance partners — the Akali Dal and BJP.