DW BUREAU/ Chandigarh High drama unfolded on Thursday during vote of no-confidence which was brought against Patiala Municipal Corporation Mayor Sanjeev Sharma Bittu, with Punjab Minister Brahm Mohidra saying that Bittu has been suspended after losing the vote. Rejecting the claim of Mohindra that the Mayor has been suspended since he lost the confidence vote securing 25 votes in favour and 36 against, Bittu, who is former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh's protege, said he needed only 21 votes and he had easily achieved the number needed. "I am not a new Mayor being elected who needed the number of 31 (votes of councillors). Under the no-confidence motion which was brought, I needed one-third, which I got," Bittu told reporters in Patiala. Mohindra, however, claimed that Mayor had failed to prove majority. "It is a victory of elected councillors. Mayor has been suspended since he lost the confidence vote," Mohindra said. Senior deputy mayor Yoginderpal Singh Yogi will hold charge of Mayor's post till new mayor is elected, Mohindra said. Bittu's victory was seen as crucial for Amarinder Singh, with Patiala being his bastion. However, while majority of Congress councillors had earlier secured tickets on recommendations of Patiala MP and Amarinder's wife Preneet Kaur, the fact that 36 voted against Bittu, showed that they had shifted their loyalties. The Patiala MC has a total House strength of 63 which includes three sitting legislators. Two members abstained from voting. There was high drama during the voting process in Patiala. There were unruly scenes inside the Patiala Municipal Corporation during the voting on the no-confidence motion, with some councillors supporting Bittu alleging that few of them were dragged by some unknown people to build pressure not to cast their votes. A week ago, majority councillors had sent a requisition to the Mayor expressing their no-confidence after which Bittu decided to hold a general house meeting on Thursday to prove his majority. Former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh was also present. His convoy was stopped well before the Patiala MC office, but he walked to the building. (editor@dailyworld.in)