Ambala Zila Parishad gets Cong chief amid Opposition protests

Congress candidate Pinki Gola was elected as chairperson of Ambala Zila Parishad on Friday in a meeting convened under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner S P Srow at the ADC office.

The meeting, however, saw loud protests by Opposition members alleging the elections were conducted unfairly. Both the Congress and INLD started the day with a strength of seven each when the meeting began. But, INLD member Geeta Panjlasa crossed over to the Opposition group taking the Congress' strength to eight and reduced his party to the minority. The INLD members raised objections and opposed the election saying that it was illegal. They alleged that the administration had sided with the Congress at the behest of the DC who acted partially in accomplishing the election.

As presiding officer, the DC, however, declared Pinki Gola as the chairperson. In the election for vice chairperson, Geeta Panjlasa was elected with eight votes in her favour. Geeta was an INLD activist, but had joined the Congress along with his wife. All INLD members staged a walkout, when the DC was anouncing the results.

Haryana INLD chief Ashok Arora along with Ambala unit president Balinder Landha, state vice-president Surjit Sondha and other party functionaries were present on the occasion. Arora claimed that his party had a majority when elections began, but it was scuttled with the active intervention of the DC who openly sided with the Congress to ensure victory of its candidate.

Arora said that the election was in total violation of conduct rules. He said a complaint has been faxed to the Election Commission alleging the election was partial. If needed, the party would move the High Court, he said.

DC Srow, however, denied the allegations levelled against him saying he had acted in accordance with the prescribed laws.

In Ambala unit polls, Congress 'divide' deepens
The rift between the two factions of Congress came to surface when partymen opposed the election of Harish Sasan, who was elected president District Congress Committee Urban Ambala city on Thursday. The Congress activists led by Rajesh Mehta held a press conference where they raised their voice against the election of Sasan.

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