AAP MLA, minister at loggerheads over election for civic body posts in Tarn Taran

The power tussle between leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Dr Kashmir Singh Sohal, MLA from Tarn Taran, and Cabinet Minister and Patti MLA, Laljit Singh Bhullar, has intensified.

In a statement made today, Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar accused MLA Dr Sohal of getting intimidated by his growing influence. “He keeps saying I am his elder brother, but he’s clearly scared of my rise,” said Bhullar. The tension is primarily centred around the position of president of the Tarn Taran Municipal Council. The minister was in Naushehra Pannuan village on Sunday to attend a function as the chief guest and was addressing newsmen at a function organised to take charge of the office of the Chairman of Market Committee.

Of the 25-member council, AAP officially has only eight members. MLA Sohal has managed to lure 10 of the 14 Municipal Council members to his side somehow, including those elected as an Independent. During a scheduled meeting on April 4 to elect the new president, the Sohal group headed by Sarbarinder Singh Bharowal arrived at the Municipal Council office with his group of 18 supporters. However, the meeting was abruptly postponed without any future date being announced, a move that raised eyebrows.

Following this, senior AAP leader Sarbarinder Singh Bharowal, aligned with Sohal, accusing rival factions of attempting to “buy support” through large cash offers. Responding to the allegations, Minister Bhullar dismissed the claims and reiterated that Sohal was simply afraid of losing influence. He also emphasised that he personally believed that the new MC president should be elected with the consensus of the local MLA.

This power struggle has been going on ever since Dr Sohal opposed the appointment of a resident from neighbouring Amritsar district as chairman of the Tarn Taran Improvement Trust two and a half years ago. Sohal had then mobilised his supporters to protest on the streets. More recently, he opposed the appointment of Rajinder Singh Usma, a Bhullar supporter, as chairman of the same Improvement Trust.

With no resolution in sight, the political feud continues to cast a shadow over the state of affairs in Tarn Taran MC.

Ludhiana