Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, corporators of Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) have moved a no-confidence motion against Mayor Junaid Azim Mattu.
This is the second time in the past six months that Mattu has faced a no- confidence motion.
Spearheaded by former deputy mayor Sheikh Imran, the corporators have submitted the no-confidence motion to secretary of SMC claiming that Mattu has lost majority.
“We have received it (NCM) today. We have not gone through it since office time is over. We will open it tomorrow and decide on further course of action,” a local newspaper quoted Mohammad Akbar Sofi, officiating secretary of SMC, as saying.
Mattu survived a floor test in December 2019 after proving majority on the floor of the House. Before the floor test was held, Imran had resigned. However, he is again spearheading a challenge to Mattu, reportedly, with the support of the BJP and the Congress and other parties.
Altaf Thakur, J&K spokesman for the BJP’s spokesman, said the corporators are not happy with the Mayor.
“We will support anybody who is against discrimination and works for the development,” Thakur said. “Further action will now be taken on the move by the corporators tomorrow.”
Mattu believes the move against him is a test for the mainstream in Kashmir.
“Been informed that BJP has sought a ‘Vote of No Confidence’ in the SMC against me. Those who have submitted the motion are either elected members/office bearers of BJP or unambiguously associated with BJP. This is the second such motion by BJP against me within 6 months,” he said in a tweet.
He said this is being done amid the COVID-19 pandemic. “That it is being claimed and alleged that INC and BJP are on the same page is bizarre beyond comprehension and hints at some clear illegality and foul play… We are certain of proving our majority and defeating this blatantly illegal, undemocratic maneuvering,” Mattu said.
Earlier, he said it was an honour for him if the BJP, the Congress and the NC are coming together to oust him. “If @BJP4India, @INCIndia, and @JKNC are coming together to vote me out — I wear it as a badge of honour! BJP and Congress have never allied in the country’s history – and if they want to ally now against us – I couldn’t ask for a greater validation of my dignity,” he said in a tweet.
The NC, however, was quick to dissociate itself from the happenings.
“Some bizarre speculations are doing rounds on Social Media regarding @JKNC_ taking sides (in some imaginations) with BJP in SMC. NC’s support to BJP in any shape and form is unimaginable and out of question. Moreover, SMC should be busy helping people & fighting COVID….This is not the time to fight for chairs and positions. SMC should be busy fighting against COVID, not each other in the middle of this pandemic,” tweeted Aga Syed Ruhullah, chief spokesman of NC.
