Atleast seven of the 13 councillors in the Banur Municipal Council have announced the withdrawal of their support for Akali president Harbans Lal.

Announcing their decision on Tuesday, five of the seven councillors came out openly against the MC chief Harbans Lal and charged him of misusing his position to push the case of Congress-turned-Akali leader and Zirakpur MC chief N K Sharma for the Banur Assembly by-election.

Five of the councillors who went out in public against the MC chief included Tanvir Hussain, Chaman Lal, Raman Walia, Neelam Rani and Nimmo Devi. They claimed that two more councillors were with them, but their names were kept secret and there were chances of them being wooed by the MC chief with money. Sources say that the revolt against the MC chief became public, after Harbans Lal attended a meeting of Akali workers in Zirakpur on July 5, in support of Akali leader N K Sharma.

Harbans Lal had reportedly announced that the Banur MC will also unanimously pass a resolution in favour of N K Sharma for pressing upon the party to grant the party ticket to him for the forthcoming by-election for the seat.

This ‘unilateral’ decision of Harbans Lal infuriated the councillors, who charged him of misusing his official position.

“He had no business to issue such a statement on behalf of all of us,” alleged the revolting councillors.

The 13-member Banur Municipal Council has six Akali, six Congress and one CPM councillor. After the announcement of withdrawal of support, the seven councillors would seek a Trust Vote from the present MC chief.