Despite high court orders, polls deferred in Phagwara

HC ON FRIDAY HAD DIRECTED THAT POLLS BE HELD BY 4PM ON SATURDAY; FRESH DATE YET TO BE ISSUED

- Navrajdeep Singh

PHAGWARA: Despite the Punjab and Haryana high court (HC) orders to elect the mayor and other office-bearers of the Phagwara municipal corporation by 4pm on Saturday, the elections had to be postponed after ruckus in the House over the choice of pro-tem speaker.

After the newly elected councillors were administered the oath of office, divisional commissioner Arun Sekhri named AAP councillor from ward 16, Vicky Krishan Sood as the pro-tem speaker to preside over the elections of mayor, senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor.

But the Opposition parties, including the Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party, and Shiromani Akali Dal raised objections, demanding that someone else be appointed as the presiding officer.