MLA D K Bansal has expressed disappointment at having been left out of the Cabinet in the newly formed ministry on Tuesday. Although Bansal said he was not “too happy” with the turn of events, he refused to elaborate on the issue.

“When one is deprived of something after your hopes are raised, it certainly affects you. But this will not hamper the development plans in my constituency,” he said enumerating civic amenities and law and order as his top priorities for the city.

Unable to escape the volley of questions about him being an ‘outsider’, Bansal claimed that he was very much a resident of Panchkula.

“My detractors have spread such stories about me. There were several in-party differences as well that led to such rumours, which are aimed at pulling me down. Now that I have emerged triumphant, it has silenced a lot of quarters,” said a beaming Bansal.

“My ancestral place is in Barwala and people here are aware of it. Those who used this as an agenda were the ones who did not belong to the city,” said Bansal coming down heavily on his political rivals.

Trying to get a strong foothold in Chander Mohan’s former constituency, Bansal said he plans to base himself in the city now that “the people of Panchkula have called me back to my hometown.”

Unwilling to speak on his predecessor’s fall from grace, Bansal denied having any knowledge about the work done by him during his tenure. “I cannot comment about it as I have not gone through the development records,” he said.

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