A day after ruling Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) Bathinda Urban MLA Jagroop Singh Gill went live on Facebook and raised serious questions over the party’s ticket distribution process for the Municipal Corporation (MC) elections, former Mayor Padamjeet Singh Mehta on Saturday dismissed the allegations, saying the selection of candidates was carried out through a lengthy committee process and was not a one-man decision.
Gill had alleged that the entire MC setup had been handed over to one man, indirectly pointing fingers at Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) chairman Amarjit Singh Mehta and his son-cum-former Mayor Padamjeet Singh Mehta. The MLA claimed that several party workers and ward presidents were ignored in the ticket distribution process.
Speaking to mediapersons while filing his nomination papers today, Padamjeet said, “The selection of candidates was done through a committee process. It was a long process and not the decision of one individual.”
When asked about Gill’s criticism, Mehta said, “It is his personal opinion and personal politics. I cannot say whether Gill sahib is annoyed or not, but all party workers are standing with me.”
On reports regarding the withdrawal of Gill’s nephew Sukhdeep Singh Dhillon from the election fray, Padamjeet said the nomination would still be filed and that the party would field a strong candidate. “We hope the people will elect that candidate,” he added.
Amarjit Mehta, however, declined to comment.
