Punjab Congress accuses AAP of subverting people's mandate in civic elections

Chandigarh, Jul 9 (PTI) Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring on Thursday accused the ruling AAP of "subverting the people's mandate" by securing the Mayor's post in Kapurthala and the Municipal Council president's post in Sri Chamkaur Sahib despite the Congress emerging as the largest party in the civic elections. Warring alleged that the AAP resorted to post-poll political manoeuvring instead of respecting the democratic verdict delivered by the electorate. He claimed that in the Kapurthala Municipal Corporation elections, the Congress won 31 of the 50 seats, while AAP secured 11 seats, the Shiromani Akali Dal and the BJP won three seats each, and two seats went to Independents. Despite the Congress's majority, AAP succeeded in getting its candidate elected as Mayor, he alleged. Warring said the Congress emerged as the single largest party in the Sri Chamkaur Sahib Municipal Council by winning seven of the 13 wards, while AAP won three wards and Independents secured three seats. However, the Municipal Council president's post went to AAP, he said. Questioning Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and the AAP leadership, Warring asked how the ruling party managed to secure the top civic posts despite the Congress receiving what he described as a clear public mandate. He alleged that democracy is not limited to holding elections but also requires respect for the people's verdict, adding that occupying constitutional posts after losing the electoral mandate amounts to betraying voters' trust. The Punjab Congress chief alleged that AAP's actions are weakening democratic institutions and eroding public faith in the electoral process. He asserted that Congress would continue to oppose any attempt to undermine democracy and would stand by the people of Punjab to protect their mandate. PTI VSD ASD ASD