CHANDIGARH, Dec 4: After a two-hour-long stormy debate, the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation today decided to seek legal opinion on whether expelled BJP member O P Goyal can move a resolution in the House asking City Mayor Gian Chand Gupta to seek a confidence vote.Outside the House, the police resorted to a mild lathi-charge to disperse the agitators who stopped the vehicle of former Senior Deputy Mayor Prem Sagar at the corporation's main entrance, besides shouting slogans and picketing.The protesters were demanding the sacking of expelled councillors from the party, while charging them with betrayal. Dharam Pal Gupta, City BJP president, later demanded an inquiry into the incident, even as the police denied that there was a lathi-charge.As soon as the House assembled, expelled councillor Om Prakash Goyal moved a resolution saying that Gian Chand Gupta should seek a vote of confidence as he had lost even a simple majority in the 29-member House of the corporation.After Goyal's expulsion, seven other councillors owing allegiance to local MP Satya Pal Jain, had also been suspended for voting against BJP candidate Des Raj Tandon for membership to the Finance and Contracts Committee on December 1.The atmosphere in today's meeting was surcharged as allegations and counter-allegations were exchanged during the proceedings of the House. Goyal alleged that he was stopped and threatened by the supporters of the Mayor at the corporation's gate. On his part, Gian Chand Gupta denied the allegations and said that the agitators had gathered because there was a lot of resentment among the people over the confidence move.Alleging that Gupta had failed in fulfilling the people's expectations, Prem Sagar Jain also charged him with not giving due respect to the councillors. Four Congress councillors staged a walkout when Gupta wanted to win the support of the House by recalling his achievements during the past one year. They charged the Mayor of ignoring their wards, especially the Manimajra.Those who took part in the debate included Raghubir Lal Arora, Gurdial Singh, Des Raj Tandon and Ranjana Shahi. Former City Mayor Kamla Sharma, who wanted to speak after the mayor's lengthy speech, was, however, denied the permission by the mayor.Even though Gupta agreed to face the confidence vote, the expelled coucillors said: "We want Gupta to seek only a vote of confidence which requires a simple majority, whereas a no-confidence motion needs a two-third majority." The House was later adjourned sine die and subsequently corporation officials were asked to refer the confidence move to the UT Legal Rememberancer for legal opinion.
