Now,MC commissioner’s post bone of contention within BJP

Kharbanda,a Sidhu man who enjoys the support of Mayor Shawet Malik,however,refused to leave. Political pulls and pushes started and Local Bodies Minister Manoranjan Kalia,whose differences with Sidhu are public now,ordered the transfer of ADC (General) Puneet Bharadwaj to the commissioner’s post. Bharadwaj was asked to immediately join duty.

Kharbanda,who did not join his duty as ADC,Tarn Taran,was transferred as ADC (General),Amritsar. After Bharadwaj joined duty as commissioner,the mayor rushed to Delhi to meet Sidhu in an apparent bid to thwart his posting. With Sidhu taking up the matter with BJP general secretary and in-charge,Punjab affairs,Balbir Punj,the transfer orders were reversed late on Wednesday evening.

A fax message from the Chief Minister’s Office said both Kharbanda and Bharadwaj would remain at their previous posts. Sources said Sidhu did not like the transfer of an officer holding an important post without his consent. “The series of events unfolding has brought forth the ongoing wrangling with the BJP,” said a top district official.

“He (Kharbanda) is my trusted officer and we have initiated various projects. I want him to be with me,” said Malik,adding that Kharbanda was transferred without him and Sidhu being taken into confidence and that was why they exerted the pressure.

Though Sidhu was not available for comments,a leader close to him said he had to assert himself in the wake of the beating he received in the case of Chhina,who despite his opposition was recently elevated to a higher post after his resignation as the AIT chairman.

State BJP head Rajinder Bhandari said he was not aware of the developments,but added that politicians at times took such transfers as ego issues,which was normal.