President MC Bandipora resigns hours before proving majority in a floor test

EJAZ-UL-HAQ-BHAT

Bandipora, Feb 20: Before proving his majority in a floor test after a no-confidence motion was moved against him, president Municipal Committee Bandipora resigned from the post on Thursday.

President MC Bandipora, Khursheed Ahmad Ganai resigned from the post hours before proving his majority in a floor test after a no-confidence motion was moved against him by some councilors.

Though Khursheed claimed he was resigning from the post due to his engagements at home, however, he had to prove his majority in a floor test which was to be held at 2 pm today after a no-confidence motion was moved against him.

The no-confidence motion was moved by eleven elected councilors of MC Bandipora against him in January this year for failing to deliver his duties as president of the MC Bandipora.

After the no-confidence motion was moved against him, Khursheed had moved to the court of Divisional Commissioner Kashmir who had stayed the no-confidence motion asking for the status-quo by setting aside the proceedings of the no-confidence motion.

Subsequently, the councilors had then moved to the high court against the order of divisional commissioner for staying the proceedings of the no-confidence motion. The court then vacated the stay on 18 February and had directed the concerned authorities to conduct the floor test.

Officials said that the floor test was to be held today at 2 pm, where Khursheed had to prove his majority but before he could prove his majority he resigned from the post just two hours before the floor test.

“He had already lost the confidence and had also tried to save himself through court intervention where he also lost. Finally seeing his fate of losing the post, he chose to resign from the post even before floor test could be held,” the officials said.

Executive Officer Municipal Committee Bandipora, Mushtaq Ahmad Mir confirmed that a floor test was to be held today at 2 pm, however, the president resigned hours before that. “Now will have to write to deputy commissioner Bandipora who will issue notification for holding new elections for the post of president and vice-president MC Bandipora,” he said.

Pertinently, the main contender for the post of president is Basharat Hussian Najar, who was the vice-president MC Bandipora as he enjoys the confidence of at least 11 councilors. The no-confidence motion was moved against Khursheed by Basharat after the support of 11 elected councilors of MC Bandipora.

The councilors had accused Khursheed of incompetence and incapability in delivering his duties, saying that there has been no visible development on the ground in the town during his one year tenure as President MC Bandipora.

The MC Bandipora has 17 wards out of which 15 have elected councilors while two had remained vacant after local body elections were held two years ago.

Khursheed was unanimously elected as President MC Bandipora while Basharat Hussain was elected as vice-president and both were representing the Congress party. Pertinently, Khursheed is the younger brother of former Congress leader and ex-MLA Bandipora Usman Majid.