The Indian Express 05.06.2013
Surprise: 3 former presidents of Panchkula Municipal Council lose
The results of Panchkula Municipal Corporation (PMC) polls on Tuesday threw up some big surprises with the loss of political heavyweights including three former presidents of Panchkula Municipal Council. Some lesser known candidates emerged victorious bucking the party expectations.
In the corporation elections, both Ravinder Rawal, former president of Panchkula Municipal Council, and his brother Naresh Rawal lost the elections. While Ravinder lost to the BJP's Sunil Talwar in ward no. 12, Naresh lost to Lily Bawa in ward no. 14. Both the brothers refused to speak to the media after the results were declared.
The Congress's Panchkula MLA D K Bansal said the party respected the voters' verdict. "The loss of two Rawal brothers is unexpected," he added.
However, winning candidates Sunil Talwar and Lily Bawa said that their victories were due to the confidence shown by the public in them. Led by his supporters in a victory procession out from the counting centre in Sector 14, Sunil flashed the victory sign as slogans in favour of the BJP rent the air. He said he won as Ravinder, who earlier represented some sectors in ward no. 12, had not done any work. "I am also thankful to former deputy chief minister Chander Mohan Sharma for the victory. The win became possible due to the combined efforts of BJP and HJC," he said.
Lily Bawa said that she won because of the developmental work that she had done in the ward. "I earlier represented some sectors in ward no. 14 and it is due to the work that I did in Sector 12 that people have reposed faith in me. I have no grouse against the voters of the areas who did not vote in my favour. All the people of my ward are my family members."
The INLD also suffered a major setback as its candidate and former president of Panchkula Municipal Council Seema Chaudhary lost the election to the Congress-supported Independent candidate, Saleem Mohammad, in ward no. 20. From ward no. 19, former president of Panchkula Municipal Council Tarun Bhandari lost the election. Although the Congress claimed victory in the ward, the loss of Tarun Bhandari was seen as another highlight of the results.
Also, the INLD's district president of minority cell, Panchkula, Gafur Mohammad lost the election to Congress- supported candidate Krishan Lamba in ward no 5. However, the INLD won in ward no. 8 electing former vice- president of Panchkula Municipal Council, Kuljit Kaur, to the corporation. Lamba said that people voted for him as he had done many developmental works and always remained connected with the voters. "I earlier remained a panch from Pinjore and was elected to Pinjore Municipal Council," he said.
Among the prominent members who won the elections was BJP candidate C B Goel from ward no. 9. He said that he had won for the third time. "It has been a hat-trick for me," he added.
