Sangrur, Apr 27 — Four months after the civic body elections, Bhupinder Singh Bhinder of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was elected president of the Sangrur Municipal Council on Saturday, securing 18 out of 31 votes.
Preet Jain, also from AAP, was elected senior vice-president with 11 votes, while Krishan Lal Vicky won the vice-president’s post with 10 votes.
Sub-divisional magistrate Charanjot Singh Walia confirmed Bhinder’s victory, noting that his rival from Congress received only nine votes.
The AAP, which had secured seven wards in the December 21 civic body elections, benefitted from the support of eight Independent councillors, who later joined the party, along with ex officio votes from Sangrur MLA Narinder Kaur Bharaj and Sunam MLA Aman Arora.
Aman Arora, the state chief of AAP, expressed gratitude, stating, “We won these elections with a clear majority. My sincere thanks to the people of Sangrur.”
Bhinder vowed to focus on development for the city.
The Congress, however, raised objections over the election of the vice-president, alleging irregularities. Surinder Singh Bhinder, a Congress councillor, claimed that the municipal act mandates the vice-president should be from the Opposition.
Arora dismissed the claims, saying the Congress lacked the necessary numbers.
The election delay was attributed to administrative reasons by AAP, although the Opposition suggested it was due to the party’s lack of majority.
