A controversy erupted on Wednesday over a get-together hosted by Ludhiana Mayor Inderjit Kaur. The Mayor had invited all councillors for a group photograph and a lunch to mark the completion of the first year of the tenure of the Municipal Corporation's General House.
However, Congress councillors boycotted the event, alleging discrimination.
The Mayor had sent formal invitations to all councillors for the programme. While members of other parties attended it, the Congress councillors stayed away, accusing the Mayor of sidelining them in civic works.
They claimed that development works in their wards were being ignored while projects were being taken up only in wards of AAP councillors.
They alleged that their concerns were not being heard, prompting them to boycott the Mayor's lunch and photo session.
Ward No 26 councillor Gaurav Bhatti voiced the protest on social media, stating: "Till the Mayor or government representatives stop discriminating against Congress councillors and ensure work in our wards, we will continue to boycott such events."
Other Congress councillors said instead of hosting a lunch, a session and discussion on development works undertaken in each ward should have been organised.
The councillors emphasised that their fight was not personal but for the welfare of city residents, addin that they would participate in future events only after their wards' development issues were addressed.
The Mayor, however, said the allegations were baseless and had it been true, councillors of the BJP would have also boycotted the meet.
"Congress councillors should come and meet me and I will show them development works undertaken in their areas," she said.
Stating that a number of initiatives had been taken during this year for bringing a positive change at the ground level, the Mayor said they had been working for the development of the entire city without any discrimination and would continue to do the same, rising above party lines. She appealed to the councillors from all parties to come together and work for making Ludhiana number one city.