New front in civic body polls

The committee will be finalising the first list of candidates by November 21. The second list will be announced a few days later.

The committee will be headed by advocate Ravinder Krishen,chief patron of the manch.

The other members will include Gurnam Singh Sidhu,Jaswinder Singh Brar,Krishen Chand Ahuja,Chandra Shekhar,Pallav Mukherjee,Atul Grover,Arun Bitta,Kuldip Singh Bhangoo,Mohammad Shahnaaz and Dr Sher Singh.

Gurnam Singh Sidhu and Jaswinder Singh Brar are the office bearers of the Chandigarh Akali Dal. Sidhu had contested the recent SGPC elections but lost.

The unit had supported Congress during the Lok Sabha elections. Pallav Mukherjee is a nominated councillor,while Atul Grover is a hotelier.

Ravinder Krishen was a part of Rashtriya Janata Dal,from where he resigned. A three-member committee headed by Pallav Mukherjee will draft the programme and manifesto. Chandra Shekhar and Bhangoo will be the other members.

The manch is looking for support in employees associations. A convention of trade unions is to be held on November 22. These would comprise of unions from banks,insurance,health,education,transport,electricity,tube-well and other departments.

Pallav Mukherjee said that there was a need for a platform for people from different walks of life to express their views. “The same people keep getting re-elected. We want fresh ideas to be mooted. Funds are being wasted in the MC,with estimates of exorbitant amounts being passed. Elected representatives who are educated will be able to understand and question these decisions,” he said.