Sharif selected as Milkstone and Deeplish candidate

The Council's Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Mohammad Sharif, has been selected to fight for the Liberal Democrats in the local elections in May. The decision was made by the Executive of the Rochdale Constituency. Councillor Sharif won 77% of the vote and will now defend his record in May. A decision was taken to ask the executive to step in after a controversy over the ward result, which Councillor Shariff won but his opponent, Javed Iqbal, claimed foul play.

Mr Iqbal says: "It is under appeal. I can confirm to you that the ward members have rejected Mr Sharif three times. The executive has no right to overule the members decision according to our constitution."

Rochdale Online has established that the ward officer responsible for distributing voting papers in the ward election subsequently ruled that five of the people to who he had distributed papers were not eligible to vote!

Sources close to Mr Iqbal claim this was in order to disqualify votes that would give Mr Iqbal victory.

There is speculation that the Lib Dems will not allow Mr Sharif to be 'de-selected' due to his prominent role within the community as an undertaker, and the respect and hence the votes he attracts.

Councillor Sharif said: "I am now looking forward to fighting again for the Lib Dems in May. I have been a member of over 30 years and I am pleased to have the overwhelming backing of the Party's Executive Committee. I am confident going into these elections, mainly because of the hard work and results that we have achieved in this area.

"There is much still to achieve though - our area is seeing a much needed facelift. Examples include projects already started on Tweedale Street, Manchester Road, Milkstone Road and many other areas. We have the new health centre taking shape and a key opportunity with the Metrolink set to benefit our area. I am committed to ensuring that our area benefits as much as possible from the redevelopment of our Town Centre. My priorities include continuing to fight against drugs and prostitution, to get a new bus service in our area and to continue to fight to get much needed youth facilities for our area.

"I am aware that our area is rich in diversity and my aim is to continue to fight for all the communities that make up Milkstone and Deeplish."

Councillor Sharif was elected to the Council in 2003, he won the seat of Central and Falinge, breaking a Labour monopoly in the ward since the eighties. Councillor Sharif has been an active member of the party since 1975 - taking part in numerous Local, European and General Elections. He was successfully re-elected in 2004 - coming top of the poll in Milkstone and Deeplish. Since then, he has taken the job on as Regeneration Cabinet Member.