MC polls: Opposition cries ‘foul’ over ward demarcation

LUDHIANA: As the ward delimitation reaches its final stage, the councillors who are members of the committee have shown dissatisfaction over the process adopted by the officials. They claimed that Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders were getting the wards demarcated as per their own convenience, and that they will raise objection against this process in the committee’s meeting in Chandigarh on Friday.
Senior Akali Dal councillor Harbhajan Dang said, “We are really surprised that officials are not telling us anything about the status of ward delimitation. We are in the committee, but never informed anything.” He claimed the ward delimitation was being done at the residences of the AAP leaders and Akali Dal would challenge it in court if anything wrong is found with it.
Meanwhile, senior deputy mayor Shyam Sunder Malhotra said, “The ward maps are ready with the officials but they are not disclosing the number of wards and other statistics. We are looking forward to the meeting and if there will be any issues, we will raise those.”
He said the public was also aware of the “tactics” being adopted by the AAP and they will not give any chance to them again.
BJP councillor Manju Aggarwal said, “The process that was to be followed at local-level is done and the wards are dismantled as per the convenience of the governing party leaders. We are hoping that on Friday when meeting will take place in Chandigarh, the officials will disclose the details. We will raise voice against wrong ward delimitation.”
However refuting allegations, AAP councillor Rakesh Prashar said, “Everything will become clear in the coming days and people will be able to submit their objections against ward delimitation.” He claimed there was no foul play in the process.
The ward maps were still being prepared by the officials on Thursday. The wards are ready and now they are only waiting for the final decision about reserved wards.
The officials however refused to give any kind of detail about the status of ward delimitation.
Notably, the ward delimitation process has been going on since June last year, and even after more than six months, the officials could not complete the same.