The SAD-BJP combine captured the post of senior vice-president, with the election of Harman Preet Singh Prince to the post. This has given the group backed by Punjab Cooperation Minister Capt Kanwaljit Singh a majority in the 31-member civic body, in what comes as a setback to Kharar Congress MLA Balbir Sidhu, the group backed by whom had been ruling so far.

This implies that the removal of his close aide, Rajinder Singh Rana, from the post of the MC president now remains a mere formality.

Prince's name was proposed by Paramjeet Singh Kahlon and 20 of the total 31 councillors raised their hands to elect him. The Congress-supported candidate, Prabhjot Kaur Sodhi, secured 12 votes to become junior vice-president.

Only councilors and MLAs were allowed entry by the convener, Mohali Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Raghbeer Kaur Khaira, at the in-camera proceedings.

Earlier, a group of 18 councillors arrived at MC Bhawan in a bus escorted by Capt Kanwaljit, while two other councillors supporting them, Kuljit Singh Bedi and Mohanbeer Singh Shergill, came on their own, separately.

Bedi, on whose writ petition the Punjab and Haryana High Court asked the SDM to hold election, clarified that he remained a Congress loyalist, but he had supported Capt Kanwaljit’s group to ensure the defeat of MLA Sidhu, who he was opposed.