Ambala Zila Parishad election postponed

AMBALA: The election of chairman and vice chairman of Ambala Zila Parishad was today postponed as the presiding officer was "unwell", triggering protest by members, owing allegiance to INLD, who alleged the decision was taken at the behest of the ruling BJP.

District Development and Panchayat Officer (DDPO) Renu Jain said election was deferred as the Presiding Officer cum ADC Monica Malik was unwell.

Election was postponed despite the quorum. Eight members out of 15 were present in the House.

BJP members abstained from the meeting, official sources said.

INLD senior leader and Zila Parishad member Makhan Singh Labana claimed the election was postponed at the behest of BJP, saying it did not have support of the majority of members in the House.

He described the postponing of election as the "murder of the democracy".

INLD senior leaders Surjeet Singh Sonda, Balwinder Punia and Sheesh Pal Jhandehri, former MLA Rajbir Singh Barara and a large number of party workers protested in front of Deputy Commissioner's office and raised slogans against the state government.

DC Ashok Sangwan, however, assured the protesting members that a new date for elections would be announced soon.