Ludhiana: Mayor Inderjit Kaur has ended a year-long deadlock by forming four key municipal committees, but the move has sparked controversy after opposition parties were handed just one of 26 available seats.The newly established panels are designed to oversee critical infrastructure, water supply, and procurement. However, the lopsided composition — dominated almost entirely by the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) — has drawn accusations of political favoritism.
Of the 26 councillors selected, 25 belong to the AAP, including the sons of two local members of the legislative assembly (MLAs). The only non-AAP representative is senior Congress councillor Sham Sunder Malhotra, who was appointed to the dispute settlement committee.Power concentrated among ‘near and dear’The committees serve as the administrative backbone of the council, delegating power to select councillors to monitor branch activities and ensure public works are not delayed. Sources indicate the appointments followed lengthy deliberations between the mayor, senior deputy mayor, and deputy mayor.The final lists suggest a tightening grip by the ruling party, with several seats filled by councillors described as “near and dear ones” of AAP leadership. The mayor could not be reached for comment regarding the lack of opposition representation. The four committees cover the city’s most vital services, with a fifth committee for the building branch reportedly still under discussion.Accountability concernsThe exclusion of opposition members raises questions about the council’s internal “checks and balances.” Historically, cross-party representation on the purchase committee and the bridges and roads branch has been used to provide oversight on government spending and construction quality. With the AAP now monitoring its own administration across three of the four panels, opposition leaders are expected to challenge the mayor’s selections in the coming week. MSID:: 128205757 413 |
