Tribune News Service

Patiala, November 5

Voice for the change of Mayor in the Patiala Municipal Corporation by the Congress councillors have started erupting after Ghanaur MLA Madan Lal Jalalpur in a statement to a TV channel said that city Mayor could be changed any moment. The statement came in the backdrop of installation of flex-boards of Diwali greetings across the city that featured Patiala Mayor Sanjeev Kumar Sharma and Capt Amarinder Singh together.

While talking to The Tribune, MLA Madan Lal Jalalpur said, “Capt Amarinder Singh has already left the party. Sanjeev Sharma’s photographs featuring with him shows that he has joined the ex-CM. So, he should leave the Mayorship on his own. We already have the support of 50 councillors in the Patiala MC and they have only 10.” He said Local Bodies Minister Brahm Mohindra could change the Mayor in a span of days.

Krishan Chand Budhu, councillor from Ward No. 44, who has already been vocal against the city Mayor and has raised a number of objections against his functioning, said he (Budhu) is a lone contestant for the post. “The Mayor will be changed in a few days. I am at the top of the list of people contesting for the post”, he said.

Another councillor from one of the wards of the Patiala city-1 said, “All councillors like to become Mayor but it is for the party leadership to decide.”

Local Bodies Minister Brahm Mohindra when contacted said he had not received any proposal to change the Mayor . “I have not received any proposal for a change of Mayor, either officially or unofficially. If anyone comes, we will look at it from that perspective.”

Mayor Sanjeev Kumar Sharma did not comment on the matter.

Meanwhile, as per the Punjab Municipal Corporation Act, a councillor holding office as a Mayor or Senior Deputy Mayor or Deputy Mayor may be removed from his office by a resolution of the corporation passed by a majority of the total membership of the corporation and by majority of not less than two-thirds of the members present and voting in a meeting of the corporation in the prescribed manner.