Feeling sidelined after tug-of-war between councillors and ruling MLAs over inauguration of different projects in city, playing a masterstroke, mayor Harcharan Singh Gohalwaria has called an all-party meeting over the issue.
Mayor's move is being seen as a well-calculated move aimed at reinforcing his position in the city and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).
“I am the mayor of the city and being the MC chief, all councillors and even MLAs have to consult me over the development issues. It's high time to take a decision, who would inaugurate the projects,” said Gohalwaria, while talking to HT.
The meeting will be conducted on Sunday. The recent controversies over inauguration have dented the image of the SAD to a great extent and brought to fore the bickering among different factions of the party in the district unit.
“As a politician, if you are doing work, you don't need to project it or inaugurate it. People are the better judge of all your deeds in politics. The rat race for inauguration is uncalled for,” he said, while taking a dig at leaders, involved in fighting over inaugurating a project.
On June 23, the race to inaugurate a project in ward number 8 had taken an ugly turn when supporters of independent councillor Daljeet Singh Grewal and Ludhiana east SAD MLA Ranjeet Singh Dhillon had entered into a clash, leaving 10 persons injured.
{{/usCountry}}On June 23, the race to inaugurate a project in ward number 8 had taken an ugly turn when supporters of independent councillor Daljeet Singh Grewal and Ludhiana east SAD MLA Ranjeet Singh Dhillon had entered into a clash, leaving 10 persons injured.
{{/usCountry}}Even as Grewal managed to get the support of SAD-associated MLA Simarjit Singh Bains and Congress councillors, the mayor till now has refrained from commenting over the issue.
“Let alone independents, I am in favour of giving preference to opposition Congress councillors as well, when it comes to inauguration of projects,” the mayor said.