AAP scores major upset in Kharar council, SAD loses president's post
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Mohali: In a major political development, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday unseated Kharar municipal council president
Jaspreet Kaur Longia
of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) through a no-confidence motion.
The motion was backed by 18 AAP councillors and supported by local MLA Anmol Gagan Mann and Chamkaur Sahib MLA Dr Charanjit Singh.
The no-confidence motion was tabled and passed during a specially convened meeting of the council, attended by 21 out of 27 councillors. All 18 AAP members were present, along with three opposition councillors, including Longia herself. According to the Punjab Municipal Act, a passed no-confidence motion results in the immediate removal of the sitting president.
Executive officer (EO) of the municipal council, Gurbakshish Singh Sandhu, confirmed the outcome. "The motion was passed in today's meeting. We have forwarded the proceedings to the local bodies department and expect approval by May 19, after which a new house meeting will be called to elect the next president," he said.
Longia said, "I take this as god's orders. AAP has played political vendetta to grab the president's seat and I am ready to vacate it."
The Kharar municipal council elections held on February 17, 2021, initially produced a hung house, with Congress securing 10 seats, SAD 8, AAP 1, and independents 8. Jaspreet Kaur Longia was elected president with the support of SAD and independent councillors.
However, the political equation changed dramatically on Sept 23, 2022, when eight Congress councillors, six independents, and one SAD councillor switched allegiance to AAP, giving the party a clear majority with 18 seats.
The build-up to Friday's motion began on May 5, when all 18 AAP councillors submitted a written request to the EO for a special session to move the no-confidence motion. The letter cited a loss of faith in Longia's leadership and asserted she no longer enjoyed majority support. As per procedure, Longia was given an opportunity to prove her majority during the session.
MLAs Anmol Gagan Mann and Charanjit Singh accompanied the councillors to the meeting venue in a bus, signaling coordinated support from the party's legislative leadership.
Reacting to the development, SAD leader Ranjit Gill criticized AAP's approach, calling it "a display of political dictatorship." He said, "They are toppling elected representatives using government machinery. The people can see their high-handed tactics." Echoing the sentiment, senior SAD leader and former Derabassi MLA N K Sharma alleged that AAP was intimidating councillors loyal to SAD by using police pressure.
BOX
MLAs with councillors arrived under heavy security
AAP MLAs along with 18 MC councillors arrive in a single bus under heavy security at Kharar MC. The police had cordoned off the bus carrying the councillors to the MC house. Led by Kharar DSP Karan Singh Sandhu along with Kharar SHO Sub Inspector Ajitesh Kaushal and armed commandos, the police team escorted the bus to Kharar and then cordoned the passage allowing MLAs and councillors to walk towards the MC building.
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