A high-stakes meeting of the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation held at Guru Nanak Dev Bhawan under the leadership of Mayor Inderjit Kaur descended into chaos as councillors from the Aam Aadmi Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party engaged in a heated argument that quickly escalated into a physical scuffle. The confrontation erupted over the scheduling of elections for two vacant positions in the Finance and Contract Committee, leaving administrative officials scrambling to control the unruly house.
The Core Dispute Over Election Timelines
Opposition councillors staunchly demanded that the elections for the F&CC members must be conducted immediately during the session. In contrast, Mayor Inderjit Kaur maintained that the voting process would take place on August 29. The opposition alleged that the election was being intentionally delayed because ruling party candidates were absent from the premises. Addressing the procedural rules, Corporation Secretary Vivek Verma stated that nomination forms would be accepted until 5 PM and voting would be held three days later as per regulations.
Further deepening the divide, the administration announced that voting would be conducted via ballot papers, whereas BJP councillors insisted on a show of hands. Congress councillor Gaurav Bhatti, who had filed a petition regarding the matter in the High Court, argued that the court had mandated the election of new F&CC members on August 25 itself. Meanwhile, Corporation Commissioner Ojasvi Alankar confirmed that the Mayor would act as the Returning Officer for the election. Due to the intense commotion and shouting matches, the house proceedings were temporarily adjourned for 15 minutes.
Physical Altercation Breaks Out on the Floor
The situation turned violent when BJP councillors were engaged in a heated exchange with MLA Daljit Bhola regarding the election process. Observing the argument, AAP councillor Ashwani Sharma, who previously served as a Personal Assistant to MLA Bhola, jumped into the fray, triggering a direct verbal duel between the rival party representatives. The confrontation turned physical between AAP councillor Ashwani Sharma and BJP councillor Gauravajit Gora. Other councillors and police personnel present at the venue quickly intervened to separate the two and restore order.
Party Strength in Ludhiana Municipal Corporation
The political dynamics within the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation show a distinct numerical majority for the ruling camp. The Aam Aadmi Party holds the largest share with 48 councillors, followed by the Congress party with 26 councillors. The Bharatiya Janata Party maintains a strength of 19 councillors, while the Shiromani Akali Dal has 2 councillors in the municipal house.
