The Akalis are out to please their own men by appointing their relatives. In just about two days, the Shiromani Akali Dal has appointed relatives of two of its senior leaders as Zila Parishad chairmen.
Another is expected to make her way to the top post in about a day’s time. Only a day before, Akali MlA and former Minister Bibi Jagir Kaur’s son-in-law Yuvraj Bhupinder Singh was “unanimously chosen” chairman of Kapurthala Zila Parishad. On Wednesday, son of Punjab Education Minister Sikander Singh Maluka, Gurpreet Singh Maluka, has also made his way to the top post of Bathinda Zila Parishad.
This is not all! Wife of another Akali MlA, Harpreet Singh from Malaout, Avneet Kaur is the likely victor to be appointed on the post of Muktsar Zila Parishad chairperson — reserved for women. Only a couple of days before, Punjab Government has instructed all the Deputy Commissioner to elect the chairmen and vice-chairmen of the state’s Zila Parishads, and complete the process by August 23.
As per the procedure, the newly-elected members of Zila Parishad and concerned Panchayat Samitis’ chairmen have been authorised to elect Zila Parishads’ chairmen and vice chairmen. The election is supervised by the Deputy Commissioners or the officer not below the rank of Assistant Commissioner.
Even as the ‘nearest and dearest’ of the political leaders has always been the first choice for every possible thing, the trend is mostly seen during the poll season. The top leaders not only lobbied hard for the tickets, and ensuring their win, but are also toiling hard to get the top post for them too — and with majority of its members on the winning side, it becomes all the more easy.
In Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samitis elections, SAD-BJP combine managed to grab 297 seats of Zila Parishads out of 329, while Congress won 26 and others succeeded to gain six seats of Zila Parishads. Of the total 2731 seats of Panchayat Samitis, SAD-BJP combine grasped 2122, Congress took hold of 454 whereas others got 153 seats.
After carrying through by securing a win for his son during Zila Parishad polls, Maluka on Wednesday assured his “unanimous” election as chairman of Bathinda Zila Parishad. Gurpreet was elected unopposed in May 19 elections of Zila Parishad from the Bhagta zone. Known as an able election strategist, Maluka managed to bring Congress candidate, Rachhpal Singh Kothaguru, contesting against his son in the party fold. The Youth Congress general secretary Kothaguru not only withdrew his nomination papers from Zila Parishad elections from Bhagta Bhai Ka zone in favour of Gurpreet Maluka, but also joined SAD — facilitating his unopposed election to the local body.
Out on bail after she was sentenced five-year imprisonment in illegal abduction and forcible abortion of her daughter Harpreet Kaur’s murder case, Bibi Jagir Kaur has been maintaining a low profile. But, left no stone unturned to promote her son-in-law Bhupinder. Bhupinder, also unanimously chosen for the apex post, had won the Zila Parishad poll from Nangal lubana zone of Bholath assembly segment — represented by Bibi Jagir Kaur.