The controversies arising out of the continuous tiff between Mayor -- Asha Lakra, Deputy Mayor -- Sanjiv Vijayawargia and the two Town Commissioners though have suddenly settled down in the wake of upcoming civic polls but the sudden change in the attitude of duo (Lakra and Vijayawargia) has raised the eyebrows of not just the opponents but of the electorates as well.
Once the fiercest of enemies and now the ‘best of friends’ are promoting their party’s agenda.
Be it promotional events, general public gatherings at different wards or party meetings, neither Lakra nor Vijayawargia is leaving out any opportunity to impress the voters depicting ‘All is Well’ feeling for each other.
Ever since these both contestants filed their nomination on March 22, they have been together.
Is it an impermanent change on the party’s high-command call that had recently ordered Lakra and Vijayawargia to come together sidelining all misunderstandings or merely a promotional stunt to be in the limelight until the two coveted posts are yet again presumed by them?
Lakra said, “I had never targeted anyone for personnel reasons. I was the voice of public. All my actions then were in public interest. As an elected representative, I will always raise my voice against the negative aspects, corrupt practices and other loopholes. People elect us with hope.”
“Earlier whatever significant points I had raised ranging from hoardings, CCTVs installation or regarding the extension of certain companies, in all matters re-tender was done ensuring all technical aspects and following rules.
At times, raising voice against certain things becomes important. Even public go on a strike or adopt other measures, if in case their demands are not fulfilled,” Lakra further added.
It is strange but true, in spite of several controversies on different grounds between Lakra and Vijayawargia that made headlines for over three years, the senior BJP leaders only in the peak time now intervened asking them to come together applying ‘Damage control’ theory. Lakra who was busy in her door to door promotional campaign on Monday echoed with confidence and further cited that the party’s ideology is the guiding force and all party representatives have to abide by the orders issued to them by the senior leaders.
There were several occasions when the difference between the two public representatives belonging to same political party was clearly visible. Neither of them stood by each other, there were circumstances when RMC Board meeting was turned into a battleground, several press meets were organized by them for exposing each other’s malfunction.
The Deputy Mayor, who had opposed Lakra’s decision on various frontages like distillery pond restoration work, extension of bright neon firm, Vijayawargia on Monday said, “We were never against each other. Though at times our views differed but it is just a normal course of action. Taking the party’s vision forward, we are more than satisfied working with each other. Opposition parties have no other issue at this moment; hence they are pulling our legs.”