The Haldwani police had to resort to lathicharge here on Friday, when two different factions of the Congress party clashed with each other outside the premises of the SDM/ City Magistrate offices where the nomination process for the local civic body was going on.
Amid slogan shouting the Congress Candidate Hemant Bagarwal and a rebel candidate of the Congress party Iqbal Bharti reached premises of the SDM/City Magistrate office around the same time this afternoon.
Perhaps arrival of the both the candidates at the same time led to heated arguments between the supporters of both the said candidates.
Since there was a lot of crowd, therefore, in a bid to control the situation the police on duty had to exercise a ‘mild’ lathicharge’ to disburse the crowd.
However, the nomination process went off peacefully. But uncertainty over the eligibility of the Congress candidate Bagarwal continued till late afternoon due to a court case pending against the Congress candidate.
Therefore, Bagarwal could go to file his nomination only when he received stay on his case from the High Court of Uttarakhand (HCU) today, as Bagarwal said.
It is reported that Bagawarl was allegedly facing a case of theft in a lower court here. Though he had got bail earlier in this case to avoid arrest, to get stay on the punishment that was pending against him in this case was mandatory for the Congress candidate, as the experts here believe.
That is why he became able to file his nomination on the last day of the nomination only when he received stay from the HCU today.
However, thanking his party leadership for giving him ticket, Bagwarl said he would try to come to the expectation of the people of Haldwani.
At the same time, he came down heavily on his rivals saying all these allegations that have been levelled against him are baseless. I have always worked for the people and hopefully, the people would again extend their support to me in this election.
Talking about his priorities, Bagarwal maintained that to maintain cleanliness and civic affairs of the Haldwani city would be his top priority if the people of this city elect him to the post of mayor of Haldwani city.
Apart from that to carry forward the popular schemes that our State Government has launched for the people would be his top priority, he added.
Among others Joginder Rautela of the BJP also filed his nomination for the post of mayor on the last day of nomination.
After filing his nomination Rautela maintained that to improve the civic services and maintain cleanliness of the city would be his top priority.
I am thankful to our previous BJP Government that upgraded the municipal corporation of Haldwani. Therefore, we would continue to work hard to meet the expectations of the people ahead.