Hasanpreet Bhardwaj (35), a close aide and former OSD to Sangrur MP Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, was elected the first Mayor of Barnala on Thursday. Forty-nine of the 50 councillors were present during the election and Hasanpreet claimed he was elected unanimously.Before entering politics, Hasanpreet served as a patwari in the Revenue Department. A first-time councillor from Ward 44, his name for the post of Mayor was cleared on Wednesday.In October last year, Barnala was upgraded to the state’s 14th municipal corporation. Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema and MP Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer assured that there would be no dearth of funds for the town’s development and described it as a historic moment, as Barnala’s first Mayor belongs to the AAP.In the recently held elections, AAP won 36 wards, while the BJP secured seven seats, Independents won five and the Congress two. Two Independent councillors later extended support to AAP.Hasanpreet said he would work rising above party lines for the welfare of the public.The elections to the posts of Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor were not held on Thursday.Barnala is represented in the Assembly by Congress MLA Kuldeep Singh Kala Dhillon.