Ludhiana: Political activity has intensified ahead of the MC general house meeting on Aug 25, where councillors will elect two members to Finance and Contracts Committee (F&CC), a key panel responsible for taking major financial and administrative decisions of the civic body.While one of the two seats is expected to go to the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), opposition parties are making efforts to secure representation on the committee.The Congress has finalised the name of councillor Gaurav Bhatti as its candidate. Bhatti had earlier challenged the appointment of two councillors to the F&CC, which eventually led to the fresh election process. The ruling AAP and the BJP are yet to announce their candidates, while Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) councillors are expected to take a call after the final list of contestants is declared.The election comes in the backdrop of the Punjab and Haryana high court proceedings related to the nomination of Aman Bagga, son of MLA Madan Lal Bagga, and Yuvraj Sidhu, son of MLA Kulwant Sidhu, to the F&CC by mayor Inderjit Kaur. Following the legal challenge, the appointments were set aside, paving the way for a fresh election.Sources said the ruling AAP is facing an internal debate over whether Bagga and Sidhu should be renominated or replaced with new faces. Several names are reportedly under consideration, with party leaders and MLAs actively involved in consultations.The BJP is also discussing potential candidates, while the two SAD councillors continue to keep their options open. Interestingly, both Congress and BJP leaders claim that the SAD councillors may extend support to their respective candidates.Meanwhile, opposition councillors have urged the mayor to include on the agenda a resolution signed by 45 elected councillors seeking election of F&CC members through a secret ballot. They argue that the resolution, jointly submitted by councillors across party lines, cannot be ignored without being formally placed before the House.Bhatti said the general house should first determine the mode of voting before conducting the election. “The House should specifically decide whether the election will be held through secret ballot, ballot papers or by show of hands in accordance with the law,” he said. He also sought clarity on whether the councillors’ resolution would be considered or rejected and demanded that any decision on the matter be communicated in writing for official records.
