Mayor elections: Residents sceptical of change on the ground

While BJP’s Madhu Azad was elected unopposed as the city’s mayor and the post of deputy mayor went to BJP councillor Sunita Yadav, Congress-supported Pramila Devi Kablana bagged the post of the senior deputy mayor.

City residents gave mixed reactions to the mayoral election results, which were conducted at the John Hall in Civil Lines on Friday.

The city was hoping for the BJP to bag all three posts so that the House could have easily cleared development files. (Sanjeev Verma/HT PHOTO)

While BJP’s Madhu Azad was elected unopposed as the city’s mayor and the post of deputy mayor went to BJP councillor Sunita Yadav, Congress-supported Pramila Devi Kablana bagged the post of the senior deputy mayor.

The residents were apprehensive as to whether mayor, senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor — who are responsible for the civic development of the city — will be able to work in a healthy environment at House meeting or not.

“I speak from my experience of the first Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) election that took place in 2011. The three mayors will remain mere tools in the hands of the top leaders. The BJP has bagged two mayoral posts and one has gone to the Congress. The BJP has severe infighting and Congress will try to manipulate the situation as well. I feel the city is going to witness the biggest disaster in five years. I have no faith in these mayors and their leaders,” said Dharam Sagar, president of federation of residents’ welfare association (Forwa) of urban estate.

The residents are also worried about the intense fighting among the top BJP leaders that was exposed in the run-up to the MCG elections, which gave the benefit to independent councillor Kablana.

Ashok Kohli, resident of Sushant Lok, said, “The BJP has a majority with 26 councillors of the total 35, yet the Congress-backed councillor bagged one mayoral seat. Our concern is that the House will always be in trouble. To take even a minor step towards development, councillors would seek direction from their respective senior leaders. I am worried that the state of basic amenities such as roads, sewer, water, etc. will go from bad to worse.”

The city was hoping for the BJP to bag all three posts so that the House could have easily cleared development files.

“I am sure every file will be blocked by one group of councillors and vice-versa following directions from their seniors. In terms of civic development, the city has witnessed bad and poor politics affecting development,” said TN Kaul, resident of Ardee City.

Spokesperson of Gurgaon MP Rao Inderjit said: “City will witness uniform and impartial development for sure. Good times are ahead.” Rao Narbir Singh, MLA Badshahpur, was unavailable for comment.

“I will not comment on Congress-backed Gaje Singh Kablana, whose wife was elected senior deputy mayor,” said Captain Ajay Singh Yadav, senior Congress leader.