Sujanpur (Pathankot), June 4

Anuradha Bali of the Congress was unanimously elected the first-ever woman president of the Sujanpur Municipal Committee. Surinder Manhas, an Independent who joined the Congress after winning the polls, was elected the vice-president.

Sujanpur was the only civic body in Punjab that was yet to decide on the top two posts. Covid and factionalism had already forced two postponements.

Insiders said PPCC chief Sunil Jakhar had a tough task taking the final call. Earlier, the elections were postponed twice because the party failed to arrive at a consensus. “Despite the fact that Bali was the proverbial dark horse, the PPCC choice fell on her because of her experience as a two-term councillor,” said a councillor. Bali’s husband Mahinder Suri Bali is a three-term councillor. The Balis are considered to be Jakhar loyalists. — TNS