Vishal Rana, Hamirpur

In a significant political development, the Congress-backed President of the Hamirpur Municipal Council, Manoj Minhas, has been ousted following a no-confidence vote. Acting under the directives of the High Court, a special meeting was convened for the motion, during which voting took place under tight police surveillance.

Manoj Minhas, representing Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s home district, had earlier submitted his resignation but it was not accepted. Consequently, a vote was conducted to remove him from his position. Out of 11 council members, 7 voted against Minhas, while 4 supported him, leading to his removal. Elections for a new president will now be scheduled.

The motion against Minhas was initially introduced by 7 BJP councilors in May 2024, ahead of the Assembly by-elections. However, the process was delayed due to the elections. Dissatisfied councilors approached the High Court, which directed an expedited decision. Today’s meeting, held to resolve the matter, resulted in Minhas’s ouster.

The Hamirpur Municipal Council comprises 11 members, of whom 9 were originally from the BJP, and 2 from the Congress. However, ahead of the by-elections, Manoj Minhas and another BJP councilor, Raj Kumar, switched allegiance to Congress. This shift delayed the appointment of a new president.

Under new rules introduced by the Congress government, the local MLA, Ashish Sharma, will also have a vote in the upcoming presidential election. Sharma criticized the BJP for alleging manipulation, stating that the process followed democratic principles.

Ward No. 10 councilor Dr. Sushil remarked that Minhas was defeated by a clear margin of 7 votes to 4, paving the way for a BJP-backed candidate to take over as the new president.

Meanwhile, outgoing president Manoj Minhas clarified that his resignation, submitted a day earlier, was prompted by Hamirpur’s notification as a Municipal Corporation. He stated, “With the elevation of Hamirpur to a corporation, remaining in the position was unnecessary. I had no interest in lobbying against the no-confidence motion.”

Hamirpur SDM Sanjeet Singh emphasized that any decision regarding Minhas’s resignation or the new appointment would follow legal procedures.

The council will soon elect a new president to serve the remainder of the term, which exceeds a year. With BJP dominating the council, it is anticipated that a BJP-backed candidate will assume the role. This development marks a significant blow to the Congress in Hamirpur, highlighting the shifting dynamics in local politics.