Lokayukta recommendation heats up MP politics

Bhopal, Apr 5 (UNI) In the wake of the Lokayukta recommending dismissal of 39 Bharatiya Janata Party corporators of the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) and disqualifying them for contesting polls for five years, Madhya Pradesh's main opposition Congress has demanded the sacking of all BJP corporators.

Meanwhile, a delegation of corporators led by BMC Leader of the Opposition Ashok Pande met Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and BJP state President Narendra Singh Tomar and alleged that the Lokayukta recommendation was prejudiced.

''The decision is historic vis-a-vis corruption. It is the first occasion where the entire BJP corporators' team is being held responsible,'' said Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Jamuna Devi.

On March 30, the Lokayukta recommended that the Divisional Commissioner, Bhopal, remove the corporators in the wake of alleged irregularities regarding a contract awarded to a certain company for development-linked work in the local Maharana Pratap Nagar key commercial area.

Congress MLA Arif Aqueel complained to the Lokayukta whose Technical Committee conducted an inquiry under the Lokayukta and Deputy Lokayukta Act, 1981.

About two years back, the M/s Shapers Construction Company tender quoted the lowest price for the work but a council meeting rejected it in view of an objection by the BJP corporators' team.

Tenders were invited yet again and the company's tender accepted, following approval by corporators, though the quotation was higher by about Rs 86 lakh.

''The case seems inspired by politics. The meeting in which the tender was accepted was attended by other parties' corporators as well. Mayor Sunil Sood and the then Municipal Commissioner Gulshan Bamra also played roles. I am taking legal counsel in the matter,'' said Mr Pande.

UNI