Chandigarh March 27:
The
state government has finally fixed April 2 as the date to elect new
mayor of Patiala. The post had fallen vacant following resignation of
Jaspal Pardhan, whose name figured in the alleged murder of his
‘daughter-in-law’, Parampreet Kaur.
Earlier,
it was being speculated that the government might wait for the inquiry
report of special investigation team (SIT) of Punjab Police, constituted
to ascertain the role of mayor in the ‘murder’ case. With the decision
to conduct the mayoral election on April 2, the aspirants have again
become active and are leaving no stone unturned to occupy the coveted
post. As per a communication received from the office of the divisional
commissioner, the election would be conducted at 11 am on April 2.
“We
have dispatched letters to all the councillors to attend the meeting in
which the mayor will be elected,” confirmed commissioner of the civic
body, Gurlavleen Singh Sidhu. However, the election will be a mere
formality as the name finalised by the SAD high command would occupy the
post. The SAD high command will send its choice of candidate in a
sealed envelope through party incharge for Patiala and education
minister, Sikander Singh Maluka, who will handover the envelop to one of
the senior councillors to announce the name in the meeting.
The
new mayor will get to know the high command’s choice a few hours before
the name is actually made public. Now, the contest for the new mayor is
wide open and chances of Pardhan’s return are negligible. Sources said
SAD high command was convinced that Pardhan had no role in ‘murder’ case
of his ‘daughter-in-law’, but the party decided not to reinstate him to
avoid controversy as the case was pending with the Punjab and Haryana
high court following Parampreet’s father filed a plea seeking a CBI
probe into the incident.
