Councillors hold demonstration seeking mayor’s ouster

The General House meeting of the Patiala Municipal Corporation was held amid tight security on Tuesday, with many of the ruling party councillors staging a “silent protest” outside the meeting venue, seeking the removal of Mayor Ajit Pal Singh Kohli.

Covering their mouths with a white cloth and holding placards in their hands, 18 councillors of the ruling alliance of the Bharatiya Janata Party and Shiromani Akali Dal demonstrated against Kohli’s way of functioning.

The rest of the 22 councillors of the ruling combine, along with four Congress and one Independent councillor attended the meeting, which was chaired by Kohli. As many as 34 agenda items were passed.

In a sight never witnessed before, a contingent of security personnel guarded the venue as the meeting progressed. The MC meeting took place after a significant gap. Fearing violence during the meet, MC Commissioner M S Narang had earlier sought tight security for the day.

An SP-rank officer remained deputed at the MC building throughout the day and no one was allowed to enter the building without authorisation and verification. Metal detectors were installed since early morning and all those coming to the building were whisked at the entry.

Fireworks were expected at the meet, given the prolonged tension between the mayor and a certain section of the councillors, who have been opposing the mayor and seeking his removal for the last many months.

The disgruntled councillors have staged walkouts and held demonstrations during previous meetings of the MC too and not allowed any development agenda to go ahead. As a result, a lot of money sanctioned for the MC has remained unused.

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