In Fatehabad, no-confidence motion against lone Cong-backed panchayat samiti chief

Hisar: Ratia panchayat samiti chairman Kewal Krishna Mehta, the lone Congress-backed face at the post in Fatehabad district, is facing a serious challenge, as a majority of members have initiated a no-confidence motion against him.As many as 17 of the 22 members have expressed no confidence in the chairman and demanded a meeting be convened to discuss the motion. The members met deputy commissioner Vivek Bharti on Monday.Mehta joined the Congress during the Oct 2024 assembly elections, along with Bhattu panchayat samiti chairperson Jyoti Luna, who has since lost her post. Now, members have united against Mehta.Members backing the no-confidence motion alleged that the chairman was not discharging his duties properly and ignored issues raised from their respective areas. They said Mehta lost their confidence and there was no external pressure on them to move the motion, demanding a meeting be called at the earliest.Those who signed the no-confidence proposal include panchayat samiti members Simranjit Kaur, Palo Kaur, Ashok Kumar, Sunil Kumar, Jasvir Kaur, Rajinder Kaur, Sumanpreet Kaur, Usha Devi, Jaibir Singh, Bagga Singh, Aman, among others.Political realignments following the Oct 2024 assembly elections have intensified the situation. After the BJP denied a ticket to then Ratia MLA Laxman Napa and nominated Sunita Duggal, Napa joined the Congress along with Mehta and several sarpanches. Although Congress candidate Jarnail Singh defeated Sunita Duggal by 21,442 votes, the BJP later formed the state govt. Since then, efforts reportedly were underway to remove Mehta from the post.On Jan 9, 2025, a no-confidence motion against Mehta was brought in the house, but failed as only 12 of the 22 members attended the meeting, short of the required minimum 16 votes. A similar motion was rejected twice earlier as well. On Jan 22, Luna was removed from the post after 18 of the 21 members voted against her.