Board politics adds ammo to Cong-AAP face-off

Ludhiana: Even though the MC elections are yet to be announced, the political scenario is heating up with each passing day.
A high-pitched drama was witnessed in Jawahar Nagar camp on Thursday when Congress councillor Baljinder Singh Banty from ward 68 entered into arguments with the civic officials who had come to remove some hoardings in the market, put up by the councillor.
Banty had installed there hoardings in the area when development works in the ward had not taken place. He had held ruling party leaders responsible for the delay in execution of works.
The councillor claimed he had got approval for road works in Jawahar Nagar camp, Model Gram road and other adjoining areas from his councillor quota which was approved by the MC. The work orders for these roads were issued last year in December, but the work could not start as model code of conduct was imposed. But the work did not start even after the formation of new government, he claimed.
He said the ruling party leaders were not letting the works take off to ensure his defeat. He said he had displayed these boards so that he does not face any public resentment during MC elections.
Following intense scenes, the civic officials left the spot without removing the hoardings. The officials claimed they had come to remove all the hoardings in the market as per the instructions of senior officials.
On the other hand, AAP MLA Gurpreet Gogi said, “Congress councillors have stooped too low with such tactics. We are busy doing public works and these people are busy taking credit for those works.” He said public knows everything and these tricks will not help them win the elections.
On Tuesday, another Congress councillor Punam Malhotra had complained against the ruling party leaders claiming they were interrupting in the works in her ward.