Nominations of candidates for Zila Parishad polls in Punjab rejected en masse, says Akali Dal
Chandigarh, Dec 6
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Saturday said nominations of party candidates for the Block Samiti and Zila Parishad elections were rejected on a massive scale across Punjab and demanded that the deadline for filing nominations, where there were complaints of highhandedness and discrimination, should be extended to allow for a free and fair poll.
Akali leader Daljit Singh Cheema called for the nomination of independent observers for the polls, besides demanding action, including charge sheeting of police and civil officials who had vitiated the election atmosphere by acting as stooges of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government. “The party will also submit the names of Returning Officers who have acted in a partisan manner and rejected forms of opposition leaders en masse, and appeal that they should not be put on duty in the general elections in 2027.â€
Cheema also came down heavily on the State Election Commission. He said it was condemnable that at a time when democracy was being murdered in the state, the SEC had chosen to look away.
“This raises disturbing questions about the integrity of the State Election Commission as it has failed to supervise the elections in a fair and impartial manner and has also refused to take action against police officers, including Patiala SSP Varun Sharma, who specifically directed police officials to stop opposition candidates from reaching the offices of Returning Officers by resorting to illegal and unconstitutional meansâ€.
Cheema also asked the State Election Commission to immediately direct all Returning Officers to take self-declarations on dues and not reject forms on flimsy grounds. He also said the Election Commission should direct Block Development Officers not to victimise candidates by rejecting nominations on the pretext of not being able to secure the no-due certificate, and follow a transparent method to secure it.
— IANS
Reader Comments
While the allegations are serious, we must also consider the source. Akali Dal has been in power for decades and knows the game. Could this be a tactic to create sympathy and discredit the AAP government before the elections? The SEC should investigate independently.
The issue of "no-due certificates" is a classic bureaucratic hurdle used to harass common people. If BDOs are weaponizing this against opposition candidates, it's shameful. Transparency is the only solution, as Cheema ji said. ðŸ™
Same old story before every election in Punjab. When will our politics move beyond accusations of rigging and rejection? Both sides play dirty. The common Punjabi just wants development, not this constant drama.
Naming the Patiala SSP specifically is a big allegation. If police are being used to physically stop candidates, that's crossing a red line. The SEC "looking away" is the most damning part. Where is the accountability?
As a young voter, this is disheartening. We were promised "badlav" (change). If this is how the new government operates at the grassroots, then what's the difference? Local body elections are the foundation of democracy. They must be fair.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.