In a dramatic political development, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) wrested control of the Abohar Municipal Corporation on Friday evening by securing the posts of Mayor, Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor, despite the BJP having won a majority in the recent civic polls.

AAP Abohar Halqa in-charge former MLA Arun Narang — while talking to The Tribune — said that AAP's Ganesh Sablania was elected Mayor, while Reshma Bai Kamboj and Kiran Nirania were elected Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor, respectively.

Of the 50 wards, the BJP had won 28 seats, followed by the AAP with 20, while the Congress and an Independent had won one seat each.

Abohar was the only Municipal Corporation in Punjab where the BJP had emerged with a majority.

Narang claimed that BJP councillors allegedly raised hand in favour of the AAP candidate during the election. As a result, the AAP secured 27 votes in the mayoral election, comprising its 20 councillors, five from BJP members, one Congress councillor and one independent councillor.

The election triggered strong protests from BJP leaders and workers.

“We have gheraoed Ferozepur Divisional Commissioner, Babita Kaler and Fazilka Deputy Commissioner, Amarpreet Kaur Sandhu and demand the official documents of the elections of the Mayor,” said Sandeep Jakhar while talking to The Tribune.

He claimed that the final decision is still awaited.

Former Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar also reached the Municipal Corporation office and lodged a protest with the officers at the helm of affairs.

BJP workers later gheraoed the vehicles of senior officials, including Fazilka Deputy Commissioner Amarpreet Kaur Sandhu. According to reports, the police also resorted to a mild lathi-charge to disperse the protesting BJP councillors and supporters.

The elections were conducted in the presence of Babita Kler, Commissioner, Ferozepur Division, and Fazilka Deputy Commissioner Amarpreet Kaur Sandhu.

Sandeep Jakhar alleged that the AAP government was "making a mockery of democracy" and ignoring the mandate given by the people of Abohar.

Notably, earlier also the maiden meeting of the newly elected Municipal Corporation, scheduled for July 7, had been postponed due to an "exigency", as stated by Abohar SDM Kirpal Vir Singh. Consequently, the oath-taking ceremony of the 50 newly elected councillors and the election of the Mayor, Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor could not be held on that day.

Following the postponement, the meeting was rescheduled for Friday evening, when the elections were finally conducted amid high political drama and security arrangements.