Himachal Government disqualify Mayor, ex Mayor of Solan Municipal Corporation

Himachalscape bureau June 12, 2024 3 minutes read

Photo of Mayor Usha Sharma. Photo source: Internet

Solan, June 12,

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Nearly six month later, the ruling congress government today disqualified mayor Usha Sharma and ex mayor Poonam Grover of Solan Municipal Corporation (MC) on the charges of non adherence of party’s directions during the election of mayor and deputy mayor in the month of December, last year.

Reportedly Principal Secretary Devesh Kumar, Urban Development, in a notification issued on June 10, disqualified the duo.

The duo mayor and ex mayor had allegedly violated the congress party’s direction and had not cast their votes in favour of party’s official candidate Sardar Singh Thakur for the post of mayor. Usha Sharma instead honouring the party’s decision had herself contested the election of mayor allegedly in connivance with the opposition BJP. This had maligned the image of party and government in the eyes of public as the government had deputed PWD minister Vikrmaditya Singh, Industry minister Harshvardhan Chauhan and Health minister DR Shandil to resolve the issue. However, Usha Sharma, Poonam Grover, Abhay Sharma and Rajeev Kaura had gone against the party’s directions, leading to maligning of party’s image in the eyes of public.

Later, Director, Urban development department on December 27, 2023 had brought it to the notice of the State Government that the Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Solan, HP has submitted a report regarding non-adherence by the Councilor(s) of direction of Party and disqualification on the ground of defection for the purpose of Section 8-A of Himachal Pradesh Municipal Corporation Act, 1994. President, District Congress Committee Shiv Kumar and Sardar Singh Thakur, Councilor, Solan have alleged that four Councilors namely Poonam Grover, Rajiv Kumar Kaura, Usha Sharma and Abhay Sharma have gone against the party directions during the election of Mayor and Deputy Mayor and as a result they cast their votes in favour of Usha Sharma instead of the Indian National Congress party nominated candidate i.e. Sardar Singh Thakur.

The action against the mayor and ex mayor was taken in accordance with the law as a person will be disqualified for being a Councilor of the Corporation if he has voluntarily given up his membership of such political party; or if he votes or abstains from voting in such meeting of the Corporation contrary to any direction issued by the political party to which he belongs or by an authorized person of such political party in this behalf, without obtaining, in either case, the prior permission of such political party, or authorized person and such voting or abstention has not been condoned by such political party or authorized person of such political party within fifteen days from the date of such voting or abstention.

The decision to disqualify was issued in exercise of the powers conferred by section 8-C read with section 8-A of the Himachal Pradesh Municipal Corporation Act, 1994 against Usha Sharma Councilor of Ward No. 12 and Poonam Grover Councilor of Ward No. 8, Municipal Corporation Solan of being the Councilor of Municipal Corporation Solan with immediate effect.

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