A FORMER council member who caused by-election costing £5,600 is set to stand in the upcoming local elections much to the surprise of the parish authority who thought they had seen the last of him.
Harmeet Singh Brar took to social media to announce that he will be standing as an independent candidate for Wellow Parish Council, in the upcoming local election.
The news comes after the Parish council  had to take action in March after Mr Brar refused to change his website and social media pages which indicated he was still an active member six months after his resignation in August.
The authority said the then-Liberal Democrat member was also telling residents that he still held the seat, despite stepping down amid accusations he was bullying and harassing Conservative Party members.
Council chiefs branded Mr Brar’s actions as a “gross misrepresentation of the facts” and said that he left them in an “untenable position”
Mr Brar was also caught up in a race row in 2018 with the former Romsey and Test Valley  mayor Councillor Ian Hibberd.
The prominent Tory councillor was expelled from the Conservative party after making a racist comment on Facebook about Mr Brar May last year. mr Hibberd later apologised for the remark.
The Romsey Advertiser contacted Mr Brar about the news that he is set to stand in the upcoming elections, however he refused to comment.
Despite this, Mr Brar took to social media to comment.
In his social media post he said he was “proud to be part of the village” and also commented on his previous successes as a councillor.
Borough Council councillor Nick Adams King said: “I think it is good that anyone stands for a parish council position.
“However I find it surprising that someone who resigned and cost the parish council a lot of money through causing a by- election is wanting to stand again.”
A spokesperson from Wellow Parish Council said: “The Parish Council is surprised that ex councillor Brar has put his name forward following his resignation last August where he pushed for a by election costing the residents £5,600.
“We are surprised he is applying to come back to the council due to his previous behaviour.” 
Mr Brar is set to stand against the following candidates: Edmund Stanley Chesterton-Kay, Gaye Chesterton-Kay, Alan Smythe Clark, Leonard Christopher Craig, Trevor Grant, Michael Kenneth Jones, Richard James Light, Susan Anne Jones, Richard John Millard, Charles Kimber Payne,
Michael Harrison Perkins and Philip William Stehr.
A poll will be taken on May 2 between 7am and 10pm.