Fire in Punjab and Haryana High Court Record Room

CHANDIGARH: A major fire broke out in the record room of the Punjab and Haryana High Court here in the early morning today, gutting many old files, fire officials said. Four fire tenders were pressed into service. We got a call at around 3.45 a.m. about a fire in the high court's record room. We immediately reached the spot and started the rescue operation. We managed to control the fire in about four hour's time, Sandeep Kumar, a fire brigade official, said. He sustained some injuries in the rescue operation. He added: Right now, it is difficult to comment up on the reason behind this fire. Our investigation is on. CFSL (Central Forensic Science Laboratory) experts are also scrutinizing the spot to gather clues about the reason behind the fire. Many old files were damaged in the flames. Police sources said that from preliminary investigation it seems that short-circuit was the cause of this fire.

Chandigarh celebrates 62nd Republic Day

CHANDIGARH : City celebrated the 62nd Republic Day very enthusiastically in Parade Ground, Sector 17. Adviser to the UT Administrator, Pradip Mehra, was the chief guest on the occasion. Adviser unfurled the National Flag and took salute from the various contingents participating in the Republic Day Parade. Tricolor balloons were also released to mark the day. Addressing the gathering Mehra said that the year is just starting and it should be our aim to make concerted efforts to ensure harmony and growth of the nation. I would also like to take this opportunity to wish all of you great success in all your endeavours in the coming times, on behalf of the Chandigarh Administration, hope that we will all work together to make our nation a shining example of progress while staying true to our traditions, values and heritage. I appeal to all to come forward in contributing towards the growth of not just our country but that of the entire human race. I implore you all to become leading examples of brotherhood, warmth, generosity and mutual understanding.
Tableaus aesthetically decorated, full of information, from different departments, colleges and societies including Dy. Conservator of Forests,U.T., Govt. College of Arts, Chandigarh Architecture College, Director Of Industries, Dean Students Welfare, PEC University of Technology, Director, Census Operation, Adult Education,Chandigarh, Chandigarh State AIDS Control Society, Indian Red Cross Society were the major attraction. A colorful cultural programme was also presented by the students of Government Model High School, Sector 28 and Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 10. The Chandigarh Administration also announced holiday of January 27, 2011 for Government and Private Schools of Chandigarh. On the occasion Adviser awarded the Police officials with Administrator’s Police Medal for their distinguished and meritorious services. Commendation certificates were also given to 15 public personalities for their outstanding services in various fields including Public Service, Social Service, Art, Culture and Sports. Adviser also awarded various contingents and schools for their remarkable performances. Chandigarh Police received the overall best contingent award. In Police category, the first prize was bagged by I.R.B.Chandigarh Police where as the Chandigarh Police took second position and Haryana Armed Police came third. In NCC contingents, NCC Naval Wing bagged the first position, NCC Girls Battalion came second and Army Wing came third. In the Civil Defense category Chandigarh Home Guard received the first prize, Chandigarh Fire Services second and Chandigarh Civil Defense got the third position. Home Secretary, Ram Niwas, Finance Secretary, V.K.Singh, IG of Police PK Shrivastava, SSP, Naunihaal Singh, Chairman CHB, Mohanjeet Singh, Deputy Commissioner Brijendra Singh, Commissioner Roshan Sankaria, Special Secretary Finance Ajoy Sharma, Mayor Ravinder Pall, other senior officials of UT Administration, Municipal Corporation and Police along with the residents of the city were during the function.

Social service day organised

CHANDIGARH : The NSS Units of MCM DAV College organized Social Service Day today at the college campus. Essay competitions, declamation and open discussions were organized for the students on the necessity of social resource. The aim of the event was to sensitive the students about the importance and need of social resource and their role in the uplifting of our society. They were informed that they hold social as well as moral responsibility towards our society as each and everyone from the society in contributing to their education and growth. Social Service is an integral parts of NSS and their education. They were also informed about the various works and Zeal for the betterment of the society. They were sensitized regarding the fact that individual growth and development depends upon the growth and development of the society. While progressing one should take care of the progress of the society in which he or she in living.
The volunteers activity took part in the competitions and expressed their views on different aspects of the important of social service. They also vowed that they will certainly do something for the welfare of our society. The college Principal appreciated the efforts of NSS units and motivated the students to do their best for the welfare of their brothers and sisters.

Students Protest for their Education

CHANDIGARH : A large numbers of students of Chandigarh schools, colleges and Panjab university including parents and some teachers gathered at Panjab University Students Centre for protest against the reluctance of management of private schools in Chandigarh to the implementation of Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act (RTE), 2009. As per the RTE Act Act 25% of the students from the poor families are are to be admitted in the private schools whose expenses of education would be borne by the govt. It is worth remembering that it took seven years to pass the act in 2009 and was suppoesed to be implimented from the last academic session. The management of private schools on one or the other pretext are not willing to implement the Act even from the forthcoming session in 2011. Seventy two private schiools in Chandigarh and if students from neighbourhood are not admitted this year it will amount to the violation of the basic premises of the Act. Educationb is not be reduced to profit making business. It is sad that some private schools instead of making ventures of making education as their mission and social service have reduced it to profit making ventures at the cost of helpless parents. Gathering reminded that nearly half of the children of poor people are still deprived of quality edication and they are eventally forced to end up working as child labour. The Act is the revelutionary provision and it is the duty of every parents and conscious citizen to see the act is implemented n the is letter and spirit.

Centre to frame smokeless tobacco specific policy: Azad

CHANDIGARH : Noting that 26 per cent of the total population is chewing cancer-causing tobacco, the Centre today said it was formulating a smokeless tobacco specificpolicy. So far the Health Ministry's anti-tobacco programmesrevolved around cigarettees...there is another monster as 26 percent of the population is using smokeless tobacco withpotential to create cancer, Union Health Minister Ghulam NabiAzad said inaugurating a block of HSJ Institute of Dental Sciences and Hospital of Panjab University here.
Quoting a survey by a reputed international agency, hesaid around 35 per cent adults of the total population were smoking. It is shocking that out of this total 35 percent population, 26 percent are consuming smokeless tobacco, Azad said adding eighty percent of oral cancer was a result of chewing tobacco. Azad said only nine percent of the population was smoking cigarettees and bidi. With the smokeless tobacco having the potential tocreate 80 per cent of oral cancer, the Health Ministry is formulating a policy which is smokeless tobacco specific, Azad said.
Azad said according to a survey between 60 to 65 years of age 12 percent of population lose its teeth and more than 30 percent population lose its teeth over 70 years of age.
Tobacco is one of the contributory factors in loss ofteeths as well, Azad said adding the role of dentistry was far behind the implantation. Azad said the thrust of the Health Ministry was to produce more MBBS doctors and bring sweeping changes in the Medical Council of India. He said the Ministry had last year decided to set up10 centers of excellence in para medics.

Punjab should designate 2011 as Infrastructure and Skills Development Year : NRI convention

CHANDIGARH : A Punjab NRI convention organized by International Punjabi Chamber for Service Industry here today urged the Punjab government to declare 2011 as the year for Infrastructure and skills development. The NRI convention which saw participation from over 100 NRIs of Punjab origin from across the globe, including USA, UK, France, Canada, Netherlands, Norway, etc, besides an equal number of top corporates, also called for NRIs to adopt Punjab youth from the poorer sections for providing them education upto +2 level.
Held under the aegis of the Punjab government with focus on infrastructure development and on channelizing the investments both from within the country and overseas, the conference, organized on the occasion of the 8th Punjabi Parvasi Divas, strongly recommended involving the Indian Diaspora, especially of Punjabi origin, to make use of their resources, expertise and entrepreneurial spirit for the overall economic development of the state, especially of its backward areas.
Inaugurating the conference, Punjab Industries and Commerce minister Manoranjan Kalia said with a new industrial policy in place, offering a package of incentives and facilities for setting up projects, there was greater scope for NRIs from Punjab to set up their profitable ventures in the state and boost its economy. Member of Parliament Navjot Singh Sidhu gave a special address on the occasion. The main objective of the conference was to recognise the contribution of the financial services coupled with that of the NRIs and the domestic corporate to the Indian economy and the role they can play in catapulting the country, especially of Punjab, into higher economic growth and promoting the infrastructure, social educational and environmental causes and other allied activities.
There are enormous opportunities for NRI professional, entrepreneurs and businessmen, trade and commercial organizations to get actively involved in the development process of Northern India, particularly Punjab, as well as become mechanisms that allow transfer of their skills, leveraging of contacts, attracting investment, enhancing trade and providing networking and insight into the global market psyche.
Among the speakers were Mahendra Khari, an eminent NRI from the UK, who is the President elect of the IPCSI, Prof. Satinder Dhiman from the Woodbury University, California, S C Agrawal, Chief Secretary Punjab, S S Channy, Principal Secretary Industries Punjab, Peter Sandhu, MLA from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, Kamaljeet Singh Hayer, President of NRI Sabha, Punjab, and Inderjeet Singh Mullanpuri, editor of Deshvidesh Times and Dr Arunh Gupta an eminent Ayurvedist, European Union..
The main focus of IPCSI is promoting service industry growth in the State of Punjab which at present is lagging behind with 45 % contribution to the state GDP compared to the contribution of the Service Industry in the national growth which is above 60 percent. The efforts are to build service industry infrastructure for its various components such as health services, tourism, transport including air transport, hospitality services including hotels, resorts, theme and amusement parks, ropeways, convention centres, golf courses, developing heritage villages, human resource development, retail & real estate, IT and ITES, media and entertainment and other such sectors.
Our basic effort is how NRIs could be linked up in developing service industry in the State of Punjab and at the same time helping the youth of Punjab to become respectable citizens of the State. In the last NRI conference IPCSI had focused on skills development and making Punjab the skill capital of the world. In between the last conference and the present event, approximately 15,000 youth (mostly rural) were trained in skill devilment in the state and providing them employment opportunities.
Our focus now is how the NRIs and skilled manpower requirements could be matched with the aspiring youths and who are keen to go abroad i.e. where the demand and supply meet on common platform while fulfilling each other’s requirements. In this regard, IPCSI is exploring those skills which could benefit them when they go abroad for employment.
IPCSI strongly urges the NRIs to adopt some children especially, belonging to the weaker sections of the society from their respective districts to give them basic education and skills development to make them employable and give suitable opening to the deserving youth as per NRIs requirement. Such an arrangement would help the youth of Punjab to a great extent while strategically channelising their talent. The effort is that these youths who are keen to go abroad should not fall in the hands of touts or travel agents and other unscrupulous persons who send them abroad without giving them appropriate skills and sometimes in illegal ways.

Jewellery showroom looted in Chandigarh

CHANDIGARH : A group of 10-15 miscreants dressed up in UP police uniform looted jewellery worth crores of rupees from Tanishq showroom in Manimajra town in this union territory, an official said today. The accused, who were wearing police uniforms, overpowered three security guards and gained entry into the showroom after breaking its locks early morning. It is apparent that it is the handiwork of a professional gang. There were around 10 to 15 accused who were wearing UP police uniform to confuse the security guards, Chandigarh's Senior Superintendent of Police Naunihal Singh told reporters here.
They overpowered the guards, broke the locks and also damaged the shutter of the showroom. CFSL (Central Forensic Science Laboratory) experts have collected vital clues from the spot. Police will take some time to complete its preliminary investigation as it is a very sensitive case. Police sources said jewellery worth crores was looted by the criminals. The exact estimate is not yet available. Chandigarh Police are facing flak for their failure in solving various cases of murder, kidnapping, robbery and rape that have rocked this union territory in the past few months.

Fog returns in Chandigarh, mercury below normal

CHANDIGARH : After a day of bright sunshine, Chandigarh and its surrounding areas were again surrounded by thick fog today morning that disrupted road traffic.Freezing cold and harsh weather conditions continued to make things difficult for residents with a minimum temperature of 3.7 degrees Celsius. The mercury remained below normal in almost all parts of Punjab and Haryana today.
Punjab's Amritsar town was the coldest in the region today. It recorded a minimum temperature of 1.6 degrees Celsius that was three notches below normal. It was followed by Ludhiana city, which shivered at 1.9 degrees, again three degrees below average. Patiala city recorded a low of 3.3 degrees today. A dense cover of fog had enveloped most parts of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh this morning. Visibility was reduced to zero at various places, disrupting road traffic, said a Met official here today. Mercury also remained below normal at all places in this region. Similar conditions will prevail for the next one or two days. Dense fog in the region is also expected to disrupt air traffic today. The Chandigarh airport was opened yesterday, after a closure of six days from Jan 5-10 due to dense fog, and a couple of flights resumed operations. Right now we cannot comment anything about the cancellation of flights. We are waiting for weather to become clear, said an official of Chandigarh airport here today.
In Haryana, Hisar town was the coldest at a low of 2.8 degrees Celsius. Ambala, Karnal and Narnaul settled at minimum temperatures of 4.4, 3 and 3 degrees respectively.

Dense fog engulfs Punjab, Haryana

CHANDIGARH : Dense fog enveloped most parts of Punjab, Haryana and the joint capital city Chandigarh today. The mercury remained below the normal level in this region. Air traffic was badly affected as Chandigarh airport remained shut today for the sixth consecutive day. No flight has operated from here since Wednesday. We have shut our operations because of poor visibility. We are waiting for the weather to become clear, a Chandigarh airport official said. A few long distance trains from here were also running behind their normal schedule.
Dense fog engulfed most parts of Punjab and Haryana today. It reduced the visibility level up to zero at various places and badly affected the road traffic. We are expecting similar conditions to prevail for the next few days,a met department official said here. Haryana's Narnaul town was the coldest in this region today. It shivered at 1.2 degrees Celsius that was three notches below normal. Ambala, Hisar and Karnal towns recorded minimum temperatures of 4.7 degrees, 3 degrees and 5 degrees, respectively. Chandigarh recorded a low of 4.2 degrees Celsius. In Punjab's Amritsar, Ludhiana and Patiala cities, the mercury settled at 4.8, 4.5 and 3.9 degrees, respectively.

75-year-old woman murdered in Chandigarh

CHANDIGARH : A 75-year-old woman, the mother-in-law of Punjab's acting Advocate General Rupinder Khosla, was found murdered in her bungalow in a busy residential area here today. Police said the woman may have been sexually assaulted as well.
According to the police, the deceased was identified as Gurbaz Maninder Mann, who lived alone in Sector 21 here. Police said they suspected that the victim had been sexually assaulted. Some of her garments had been removed. The family came to know about the murder when Mann did not answer telephone calls for the last two days. Mann's grandchildren had come to meet her today. When she did not open the door after repeated knocking, they broke the door to gain entry and found her body, a police officer said here. We had called forensic experts and they have collected some vital clues. Right now, it is difficult to tell when this murder was committed. The exact picture would be clear only after the post mortem. Police said that it could be a handiwork of some drug addict.
One of Mann's daughters, Mohanmeet Khosla, is the chairperson of the School of Communication Studies at Panjab University here. Many high-profile lawyers and VIPs, including Chandigarh's Senior Superintendent of Police Naunihal Singh, visited the spot. Our investigation is on. We will solve this case very soon, Singh told reporters. Mann's family said that she was of a reserved nature and rarely talked to her neighbours. She was very old and did not come out of her house very often. She was of a reserved nature,' one of her family members said.

Magisterial probe into boy''s kidnap and murder

CHANDIGARH :A magisterial inquiry has been ordered into the kidnap and murder of a 5-year-old boy from here, even as prohibitory orders were imposed in Burail area where locals staged protests accusing the police of negligence in nabbing the abductors. An official release here said the inquiry was ordered as there were allegations that the police officials concerned did not handle the sensitive case properly which has shocked the conscience of the city. Provincial Civil Service officer M L Sharma has been asked to complete the probe and submit report by January 16.
Khushpreet Singh was kidnapped from outside his residence here on December 21. His parents had paid a ransom of Rs four lakh to the captors. However, the abductors escaped with him and the money after police made a failed rescue bid. His body was found wrapped in a blue bag in Mohali yesterday and it appeared that he was strangled to death three days back, police said. Meanwhile, Section 144 was clamped in Burail after locals took to streets demanding that an FIR be lodged against policemen whose alleged negligence led the boy's death. Police personnel were heavily deployed with anti-riot vehicles positioned in the area. Mild lathicharge and water canons were also used to control agitators, they said. Police had booked four persons for blocking traffic, assaulting some security personnel and damaging government vehicles and property at the area yesterday. Security was also tightened at the government hospital here where postmortem examination of the body was to be conducted. Khushpreet's kin were against the examination, saying a case should be first registered against cops whose alleged negligence led to his murder. The body of Khushpreet Singh, son of a grocer, was found wrapped in a blue bag and he appeared to have been strangled to death three days back, police said.
Khushpreet's kidnappers who were initially in touch with the boy's family broke contact getting the ransom money and did not release the boy from their custody. The alleged negligence in the kidnapping case had led to the transfer of two inspectors including Station House Officer of Sector 34 police station to Police lines. A Special Investigation Team had also been constituted to investigate the case.

Punjab outraged over kidnapped 5-year-old's death

CHANDIGARH : The streets of Burail in Chandigarh witnessed scenes similar to that of Srinagar when angry residents blockaded the roads and pelted stones. They were apparently miffed at the failure of police to crack the kidnap and murder of five year old Khushpreet.
Khushpreet was kidnapped from Burail two weeks ago and his body was found in Mohali today. His death is a failure of the Chandigarh police, said one of the protesters. We recovered a body that was identified by the family of Khushpreet. We are on the case. We will get the culprit soon, said H S Doon, Superintendent of Police, Chandigarh. The last Khushpreet's parents saw him was on December 21 when he left for school. Two days later, they received a ransom call for Rs. 10 lakh which they negotiated down to Rs. 4 lakh. The police laid a trap with the money but the abductors got away with the ransom.
The police could find no further clues till today when the body was found abandoned on a main road. Now as public outrage creates additional pressure, the days ahead will be tough for the police.
The boy's body was found wrapped in a blue bag and he appears to have been strangled to death 2-3 days back. We have sent the body for postmortem to ascertain exact cause and time of his death, a police official said.
As the news reached the family, relatives and local people started to arrive at the household at Sector 45 here. Angry crowds marched towards the police post in Sector 45 where they pelted stones. Police had to lathicharge to disperse the agitators. A huge police force has been deployed in the area to control the situation.

Severe cold wave sweeps Haryana fog blinds region

CHANDIGARH : Severe cold wave today swept Haryana with minimum temperatures dropping sharply while dense fog in the state and neighbouring Punjab threw normal life out of gear.
Freezing cold gripped Narnaul, which was the coldest place in the two states, recording a low of 0 degrees Celsius, down three notches, the MeT said here. As the minimum temperatures in Haryana tumbled after settling above normal for five days, chill also swept Hisar, which recorded a low of 2.7 deg C, down two notches.
Bhiwani, too, experienced a cold night at 2.6 deg C, down four notches. Rohtak and Gurgaon also braved the chill recording respective minimums of 3 deg C and 5.2 deg C.
Ambala recorded a low of 6.6 deg C.
The MeT said that fog had engulfed most places in the two states early today. Fog affected movement of vehicular traffic at many places while some trains were also delayed due to bad weather conditions.
The minimum temperature at Chandigarh settled at 7.4 deg C, one above normal. In Punjab, Ludhiana and Patiala recorded respective lows of 7 deg C and 5.2 deg C. Amritsar recorded a low of 8 deg C, five notches above normal. The MeT forecast says that cold conditions are likely to continue in the two states and Chandigarh over the next two days.

Kang to challenge City Mayor's election in court

CHANDIGARH : The opposition in Municipal Corporation has decided to challenge the validity of City Mayor election which was held on 1st of January and in which Congress candidate, Ravinder Singh Palli was declared elected.
The "defeated" candidate Jagjit Singh Kang today announced that he and other opposition Corporators would fight the injustice and irregularity at every level and the election will be challenged in the court of law. He said that a formal complaint in this regard would be filed in the court within this week.
A complaint against the graceless intervention of Union Minister, Pawan Bansal will also be lodged with the Prime Minister. Kang alleged that he had won the election and the Presiding officer had declared him duly elected but the total scene was changed by the open manipulation by some of the Congress Corporators at the behest of Pawan Bansal during the election. Kang was accompanied by BJP's Satya Pal Jain, SAD Councillor, Harjinder Kaur and other opposition concillors.

Fog again hits Punjab, Haryana

CHANDIGARH : Amid overcast conditions, a light fog enveloped parts of Punjab, Haryana and their joint capital Chandigarh here today. Cold waves swept the region last night and today morning, increasing the chill in the air. Overcast conditions are prevailing in various parts of Punjab and Haryana. Amritsar city recorded a minimum temperature of 5.4 degrees Celsius today morning. Patiala and Ludhiana recorded 8.2 and 9 degrees Celsius respectively. City recorded a low of 8.6 degrees Celsius here today0. Light fog prevailed at different places, disrupting road traffic. We expect similar conditions in the next two-three days. Rail and air traffic were also hit. Most trains and flights were behind schedule. In Haryana, Ambala, Hisar and Karnal cities recorded minimum temperatures of 7.3, 8.6 and 8.4 degrees Celsius here today.

Chandigarh, neighbouring states usher in 2011 with gusto

CHANDIGARH : Overcast skies and chilly weather could not dampen the spirit of the youngster of the city and the neighbouring states of Punjab and Haryana, and they celebrated the New Year's eve with full enthusiasm. The city hotels, restaurants, clubs and discotheques saw a huge rush of revelers last night.
Many organisers invited Punjabi singers, Bollywood fame item girls and special dance troupes from Mumbai and Delhi to enthrall their guests. The Chandigarh administration had also arranged a special Musical Nite at Sector 17, the commercial hub of city.
We are offering pick and drop facility to our guests. We made special arrangements and offered elaborate New Year menus for their guests at city hotels. Besides, around 12 midnight, youngsters took to the streets and danced to the bhangra beats in the upscale Sectors 17, 7, 8,9 and another city based hotels and discotheques. However, the police too were out in force and made full arrangements to keep an eye on hooligans and anti social elements. In Punjab, the New Year parties were hosted in various farm houses and resorts.

CITY TRAFFIC POLICE CELEBRATE ROAD SAFETY WEEK

CHANDIGARH: The National Road Safety Week is observed in the first week of January every year all over the country to inculcate the culture of road safety amongst the citizens. Traffic Police celebrating the 22nd Road Safety Week 2011 in UT, Chandigarh from 1st January to 7th January, 2011 under the theme of "Road Safety is a mission, not intermission”.
The 22nd Road Safety Week was inaugurated by Sh. Ram Niwas, IAS, Home Secretary, U.T. Chandigarh on 1st January, 2011 in city Traffic Park, Sector 23, Chandigarh. A blood donation camp and painting competition by school children from various schools of the city was also organized during this occasion. A team of doctors of PGI was present for the blood donation camp. The Chief Guest also visited the road safety exhibition. Road Safety Drama prepared by the Institute of Radio Jockeying Chandigarh having students of Manav Mangal School, Panchkula was also performed. A puppet show was also performed by Badri Nath to aware the general public about road safety.
On the occasion P.K. Srivastava, IPS, IGP/Chandigarh, Alok Kumar, IPS, DIG Chandigarh, R.K. Arora, GM/IOC, H.S Doon, IPS, SP Traffic & Security, all DSPs, all SHOs, Traffic Marshals, members of Central Traffic Advisory Committee, Harman Sidhu, AriveSafe NGO were present. Chief Guest and Guest of Honour urged the people to follow traffic rules and cooperate with the traffic police. On this occasion Award of Honours were also presented to the Chief Guest Ram Niwas, Home Secretary, U.T. Chandigarh and R.K. Arora, GM, IOC.
The road safety week will last on 7th January, 2011 and during this week various road safety activities such as painting competition, blood donation camp, road safety announcement on major light points, regular seven days road safety exhibition at Piazza Sector 17, road rules test, regular showing of road safety movies, scooter rally of girl students to promote wearing of helmets, penal discussion on road safety at All India Radio, road safety workshops for auto rickshaws and cycle rickshaws, first aid workshop for PCR police personnel, road safety seminar of traffic marshals and residents welfare associations, workshop FOR CTU, PEPSU, Punjab and Haryana
roadways drivers with free medical eye check up camp, driving training workshop for taxis, school bus drivers.

Congress wins Chandigarh mayor poll by one vote

CHANDIGARH : The ruling Congress today managed to scrape through in the crucial election for the mayor of Chandigarh. Congress candidate Ravinder Pal Singh Palli won by just one vote, indipendent candidatewith the support of BJP Jagjit Singh Kang.Out of the 33 votes counted, Ravinder Pal Singh Palli got 17 while Kang got 16.
Kang, a Congress councillor, quit the party on Tuesday after he was denied nomination. But he received support from the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party, Akali Dal and the Bahujan Samaj Party.
Out of a total of 36 votes, 35 councillors cast their votes today along with union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal, who represents Chandigarh in parliament. Two votes were declared invalid.
There was confusion after the votes were counted as the returning officer, Kuldip Singh Chandpuri, first declared Kang the winner. However, he corrected himself within minutes and announced Ravinder Pal Singh Palli as elected.
The result showed that the Congress, which had 16 votes in the corporation, failed to get much support from the nine nominated councillors.
BJP has eight votes while Akali Dal and the BSP have a vote each in the house. There are also nine nominated members. One councillor did not vote as she was out of the country.
The mayoral election was considered crucial this time as the general election for the corporation is scheduled for December. The present house completes its term by the end of 2011.