Surat: Police has arrested as many as 24 corporators of opposition Aam Admi Party (AAP) for rioting during and after the election for the Education Committee of Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) on June 25. They were later released on bail. The general board meeting of SMC meanwhile met today in absence of opposition.

The Security Department of SMC has filed a complaint against 27 corporators and 2 candidates of AAP for rioting in connection with the election for the members of the education committee of SMC that took place on Friday at Sardar Khand in the head-office of SMC. The results of the election were released at 5.30 pm by returning officer-Mayor after which the AAP candidates started misbehaving and rioting as they received lesser number of votes than expected and suffered defeat of one candidate. As per its strength AAP could elect its two candidates to Education committee, however only one could win due to cross-voting from AAP fold.

As per the complaint, AAP corporators and candidates broke the glass of the main-gate of Sardar Khand, seized and tore up the papers of election process and talked impolitely with SMC staff. AAP leaders scuffled with security guards and police for constant 2 hours.

The supervisor of SMC security department Shailesh Patel has filed a complaint in Lalgate Police Station against all 27 corporators and 2 AAP candidates for education committee election namely Ramesh Parmar and Rakesh Hirpara, for the damages in the Sardar Khand and misbehavior with the staff-members of Secretary department and with the security staff along with other charges. DeshGujarat