FATEHGARH SAHIB:  Hectic lobby is on for the post of president of Municipal Council Sirhind-Fatehgarh Sahib, comprising 17 wards.  Sirhind MLA Didar Singh Bhatti's son Gurwinder Singh Bhatti, front runner for the President's post  had already been elected unopposed from ward no 13  as papers of two other candidates were rejected and some candidates had withdrawn their nomination papers. Congress candidate  from the ward Ranbir Kumar Jeji even challenged his rejection of papers on court. 

As per the result of the council , SAD won 4 seats, BJP 3 seats, congress 2 seats and Independents on 8 seats. The results of other wards are: 1. Major Singh (Independent) 2.  Sikhni Devi(Independent) 3. Ravinder Singh (SAD) 4. Yashpal(Independent) 5.  Anju Sharma(Independent) 6.  Ajaib Singh(SAD) 7. Pawan Kalra(BJP) 8.  Sonia (BJP) 9.  Naresh Kumar(Congress) 10.  Anand Mohan (Independent) 11. Balbir Singh(Independent) 12.  Sunita (Independent) 13.  Gurwinder Singh(SAD) 14. Baljinder Kaur(SAD) 15. Tarlok Singh (Independent) 16. Kuldeep Kaur Gill(Congress) 17.  Gulshan Rai(Congress) .

Sirhind MLA's son Gurwinder Singh Bhatti is strong contender for the post of president as other strong contenders Amritpal Singh Raju, who is close to SAD president  Sukhbir Badal had lost the election. Senior BJP leader and former MC Sirhind-Fatehgarh Sahib president Ashok Sood, former president Sher Singh could not win the election. Sher Singh was close to the MLA but he was not given SAD ticket so he had contested unsuccessfully from two wards of the town. 

In 17 wards of the council, 11 tickets were allotted  to SAD while 6 to BJP but SAD only managed to win on 4 seats while BJP on three seats. Sources said that though their was strong position of SAD candidates in the election but they lost election in many wards due to groupism of Akalis. In ward no 15 from which Amritpal Singh Raju, who belongs to former Akali Minister Randhir Singh Cheema had contested the election he had to face tough contest from an Independent candidate Tarlok Singh Bajwa, who had recently joined SAD in presence of MLA Didar Singh Bhatti. Sources said Bajwa was also in fray to get the party ticket but on last moment due to reported intervention of Sukhbir Badal Raju managed to get party ticket. It was alleged that due to factionism of Akalis, Bhatti supporters helped Bajwa against the SAD official candidate and he was not even expelled from the party for contesting against the SAD official candidate. 

Ravinder Singh, who had elected from ward no. 3 is close to former minister Randhir Singh Cheema but three councilors  are under direct influence of MLA Didar Singh Bhatti.   The independent winners will be the deciding factor in forming  municipal council.  For this time no group can bag the seat of president without the help of independent candidates.  Though no official candidate was declared so far for the post of president but it is expected that SAD will field its candidate as BJP has no solid candidate, who had won the election .  BJP big gun  Ashok Sood, who is close to Bhatti also lost the election .

Sources said that the MLA group is making rapport with independents to get support from  SAD candidate in the presidential election. Though some councilors, who had won election had Congress background but they had contested as Independents candidates.

In the presidential election, the MLA will also exercise his right of voting.  Sources said that a group of Akalis did not want to see Bhatti's son on the presidential post.

A Congress councilor while pleading anonymity said that councilors belonging to Congress are not serious for the presidential post as some are under influence of the MLA and some want development of the town by electing SAD president. 

There are chances that SAD candidate will be elected president from the council if the prosperous of the party may be changed due to internal tussle of two groups of Akalis  group opposite to the MLA supported independent candidate for the post of president and Congress candidates also supported this candidate.