BJP Councillors Raise Concern Over 15-Month Development Slump in Guna

The councillors submitted a joint letter to BJP district president Dharmendra Singh Sikrawar, questioning the working of the Guna Municipal Council’s Chief Municipal Officer (CMO). They alleged that construction and public welfare works in several wards have remained affected for around 15 months. With roughly a year remaining before the next municipal elections, the councillors have sought immediate corrective measures.

Councillors Allege Cancellation of Around 60 Tenders

According to the letter, the Municipal Council and the President-in-Council (PIC) had granted financial and administrative approval for around 70 construction projects worth approximately ₹18 crore during July-August 2025.

The councillors claimed that the required funds were available with the municipality. However, around 60 tenders related to works across different wards were subsequently cancelled. They alleged that the cancellations have significantly affected development activity in the city.

800-900 Mutation Cases Allegedly Pending

The councillors also raised concerns over delays in property mutation cases. Their letter claims that around 800 to 900 mutation applications are pending because they have not received the CMO’s signatures.

They claimed that no such cases are pending at the level of the municipal council president.

Sanitation was another issue highlighted in the letter. The councillors alleged that the CMO previously inspected cleanliness arrangements in the city during both morning and afternoon hours, but such inspections have not been taking place regularly for around 15 months.

Up to 1,400 Streetlights Claimed to Be Non-Functional

The BJP representatives also alleged that approximately 1,200 to 1,400 streetlights across Guna are currently not functioning.

According to the letter, maintenance materials required to repair the lights have not been procured. The councillors further claimed that tenders for streetlight fitting were cancelled three times and that even after rates were approved in the fourth tender process, the work order was not issued.

The councillors also complained about difficulties in meeting the CMO to raise public issues. They alleged that they sometimes have to wait for hours, while phone calls are not always answered or returned. The letter also raises questions over the CMO’s availability at the municipal office during the week.

Councillors Warn of Possible Electoral Impact

The BJP councillors have linked the civic issues to the upcoming municipal elections, which are around a year away.

They warned that continued delays in development works and civic services could create difficulties for the BJP and its candidates when they approach voters during the election campaign.

To underline the party’s electoral performance in the city, the councillors referred to voting trends between August 25, 2022, and April 22, 2025. According to their letter, the BJP had secured a lead of around 38,000 votes in the Guna urban area during the Assembly elections, which increased to around 56,000 votes in the Lok Sabha elections.

They also claimed that the BJP led in all 37 municipal wards and subsequently won bypolls in two wards with record margins.

Copy Sent to State BJP Leadership

The letter is reported to have been signed by several BJP councillors and aldermen, including Vandana Rathore, Ghasiram Ahirwar, Sunil Soni and Sheel Verma.

Other representatives named in the letter include Raju Ojha from Ward 22, Mamta from Ward 25, Vimla Gopal Sahu from Ward 13, Omprakash Kushwah, Vinod Kalyan Singh Lodha from Ward 10, Anita Kushwah from Ward 5, Babita Rajesh from Ward 3, Rajkumari from Ward 37, Sandhya Ashok Soni from Ward 15, Kirti Sarvaiya from Ward 17 and Sushila Kushwah from Ward 12, among others.

A copy of the letter has also reportedly been sent to BJP state president Hemant Khandelwal and state vice-president and divisional organisation in-charge Dr Nishant Khare.

The allegations raised by the councillors now put the functioning of the Guna Municipal Council under renewed scrutiny, particularly with municipal elections approaching.