Tizara, September 21 (Daily Kiran) : A political controversy erupted just hours before the elections for the chairperson of the Tizara Municipal Council. Congress leaders have accused Haryana Police of detaining approximately 18 councillors who were returning from Himachal Pradesh to Rajasthan in support of the party.
According to Congress officials, the councillors were stopped late Sunday night near the Chandimandir (Surajpur) toll plaza in Haryana. They were allegedly held together prior to a crucial vote.
Following these allegations, protests began outside the Pinjore police station, where Congress leaders and supporters gathered to demand information regarding the councillors’ detention.
Imran Khan, a Congress leader from Tizara, claimed that a bus carrying the councillors, along with several accompanying vehicles, was halted by Haryana Police near the Surajpur toll plaza. He noted that some police vehicles did not display license plates, while others had their registration numbers covered. Khan asserted that the councillors were taken to the Pinjore police station along with their vehicles.
He further alleged that around 18 to 19 Congress-supporting councillors were detained, prompting Congress leaders to stage a sit-in outside the police station demanding their release. Khan stated that the group had begun their journey back from Himachal Pradesh but was several hours away from Tizara at the time of the alleged detention.
Sandeep Yadav, a former legislator from Tizara who was reportedly traveling with the councillors, also released a video accusing the police of political interference. He contended that the action was politically motivated, expressing concerns that the BJP feared Congress could secure a majority in Tizara’s municipal board.
While Sandeep Yadav was later released, the detained councillors remained at the center of the controversy. These claims have yet to be independently verified. Tizara’s Deputy Superintendent of Police, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, stated that the police are investigating the allegations.
Chouhan mentioned that Congress leaders asserted their councillors were on a trip when Haryana Police stopped them. The police are currently trying to determine which unit of Haryana Police was involved in the incident and are validating the complaints before taking any legal action.
The Tizara Municipal Council has 35 wards, requiring 18 votes for a majority. Current electoral data indicates that independent candidates won 31 seats, while the BJP secured three and Congress one. Given the significant number of independents, garnering their support has become crucial for the chairperson election. Congress leaders claim that 17 independent councillors have pledged their support, bringing their total to 18, which constitutes a majority.
In preparation for the vote, the party consolidated all councillors together as part of their strategy. Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot remarked that the chairperson’s election is indirectly decided by elected councillors rather than by public vote. He accused the BJP of undermining democracy, suggesting that both Rajasthan and Haryana police were complicit in this political maneuvering.
Gehlot expressed shock that Haryana Police appeared to have prior knowledge of the councillors’ identities, suggesting a targeted operation rather than a routine check. He asserted that these actions were orchestrated under the direction of the Chief Minister of Rajasthan, urging for the immediate release of the councillors.
If the allegations of detention are substantiated, it could significantly impact the chairperson’s election scheduled for Monday, as the voting is set to occur among the elected council members. Congress leaders have raised concerns that the councillors may not return to Tizara in time to participate in the voting.
However, police have not confirmed Congress’s allegations, stating that an investigation is underway. This incident has heightened tensions in an already closely watched election, with all eyes now on whether the councillors will make it back to Tizara in time to cast their votes.
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