Riding high on a historic victory in the assembly polls, the SAD-BJP government is contemplating holding the municipal corporation elections in five cities of Punjab by May-end.
Addressing a function at the Jalandhar Municipal Corporation (MC) office here on Monday, local bodies minister Bhagat Chunni Lal, accompanied by mayor Rakesh Rathour, told reporters that the government was considering holding MC elections in Jalandhar, Amritsar, Patiala, Ludhiana and Bathinda by May-end or first week of June, even though these are due in August.
"Delimitation or rotation of wards in these civic bodies will also be carried out after consulting the stakeholders," Lal said, adding that the SAD-BJP alliance would win these elections owing to 'massive' development work carried out by the government in its previous tenure.
He exhorted employees to vote for alliance candidates in the coming elections so as to enable them to carry forward the development agenda. The minister also handed over appointment letters to a section of safai sewaks whose services were regularised.
On granting approval to unauthorised colonies in the state, Lal said the issue was being considered favourably. "The colonies established up to 20 years ago will get approval even as the cutoff date is being finalised," he said.
He assured to take up the issue of granting "counter guarantee" to the Jalandhar MC by the state finance department so as to enable the civic body to issue debentures for raising Rs 100 crore.
{{/usCountry}}He assured to take up the issue of granting "counter guarantee" to the Jalandhar MC by the state finance department so as to enable the civic body to issue debentures for raising Rs 100 crore.
{{/usCountry}}When reminded about violations of the Punjab Prevention of Defacement of Public Properties Act by his supporters by erecting his billboards across the city, Lal asked the commissioner to immediately remove such unauthorised hoardings. "We will make the city neat and clean. None will be allowed to deface the city," he added.