A fresh confrontation is brewing in the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation (MC) as councillors across party lines have come together against the Municipal Commissioner, alleging that agendas being passed by elected representatives are not being implemented and are being sidelined.

In a rare show of unity, several councillors across all major parties held a meeting on Tuesday and decided to boycott the upcoming MC House and committee meetings if their concerns are not addressed.

Though a few Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillors stayed away from the meeting, a majority of representatives from the BJP and the Congress present reached a consensus on boycotting the MC House meeting where the Commissioner is present.

“As per the (Punjab Municipal Corporation Act, 1976) Act, the House is considered supreme and if despite passing agendas the same are not being acted upon or implemented then what is the use. So we all have decided that we will now not attend any House meeting and boycott these,” Congress councillor Gurpreet Singh Gabi, who attended the meeting said.

“Look at the plight that even public health staff have been deployed at the dumping ground. If you have a private company to do this work then why is the public health wing asked to be there,” the councillor added.

The councillors alleged that developmental works in wards are being delayed, files are not being cleared on time and elected representatives are not being taken into confidence on important administrative matters even when key agendas have been passed in the House. Several councillors claimed repeated requests regarding sanitation, road repair, water supply and pending civic projects have gone unanswered despite multiple reminders to the civic administration.

Sources said councillors from different political parties expressed anger over what they termed the “bureaucratic functioning” of the Municipal Corporation, accusing the Commissioner’s office of bypassing public representatives.

They also discussed submitting a joint representation to the UT Administration seeking intervention in the matter.

Some councillors warned that if the situation continues, they may intensify their protest. As of now they will collectively stay away from House proceedings, a move that could affect the functioning of the civic body.

“There is growing frustration among councillors as public grievances are increasing while elected representatives are left without adequate authority. Moreover we have elections here,” Congress councillor Sachin Galav said after the meeting.

The development comes at a time when the civic body is already facing criticism over sanitation issues, pending development works and financial chaos.

The standoff is likely to further deepen tensions between the elected councillors and the officials with the latter refusing to budge.