Ruling alliances infighting out in open

LUDHIANA: Fissures became apparent in the SAD-BJP alliance with BJP members in the finance and contract committee (F&CC) attaching dissenting notes to three proposals that were to be tabled during the municipal corporations (MC) Friday meeting. However, their SAD counterparts, with the commissioners assistance, passed these with a majority.
Out of the F&CCs six members, the SAD has three mayor Hakam Singh Gyaspura, councillors Simerjeet Singh Bains and Pal Singh Grewal while the BJP comprises senior deputy mayor Praveen Bansal and deputy mayor Sunita Aggarwal.
At the meet, differences of opinion amongst the ruling alliance partners were out in the open. The BJP opposed the plan of giving advertisement rights for the entire city to one company on the ground that it would encourage monopolization. However, as the SAD workers were adamant on passing it, their alliance attached their dissenting notes to it. In the light of this development, the SAD with the commissioners backing passed it.
Similarly, the BJP also opposed the project related to fancy lights installation on the city streets by claiming that it was a wasteful expenditure. They questioned the steps utility in wake of the huge financial crunch hampering major developmental projects already undertaken. Following the directives of their higher authorities, the SAD pressurized their alliance to pass the project, but it again resulted in the same situation.
Lack of co-operation and understanding amongst the parties surfaced again when the BJP disapproved the agenda of developing an undeclared colony, reasoning that it would result in the mushrooming of more undeclared colonies. However, when they refused to soften their stand, the SAD overruled the BJP members, due to which they again had to attach their dissenting notes on the matter.