GG News Bureau
Chandigarh, 6th Oct. In a heated exchange on Sunday, the Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government of Punjab of “misusing” state machinery to reject nomination papers of opposition-backed candidates for the upcoming panchayat polls scheduled for October 15.
Congress Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly, Partap Singh Bajwa, alleged that the AAP government is “systematically dismantling democratic processes” in the panchayat elections by exploiting state power and employing outright coercion. He criticized Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for turning a blind eye to what he termed as “orchestrated manipulation,” stating it reflects the government’s desperation to cling to power.
Bajwa described the panchayat election process as a “sham,” claiming that AAP leaders were issuing orders to block development and pressuring panchayat officers to cancel opposition nominations on fabricated grounds. He stated, “This is a calculated and sinister plot directed from the top. AAP MLAs and their cronies have hijacked the election machinery, ensuring their candidates sail through while opposition candidates are held up for hours or disqualified on spurious technicalities. This is not an election; this is an autocratic takeover of our villages.”
Bajwa urged the Punjab State Election Commission to intervene to prevent the erosion of democratic norms, stating, “It is high time the state election commission intervenes to ensure that these elections are conducted fairly.”
The SAD echoed these sentiments, accusing the AAP government of stifling democratic voices by obstructing opposition members from filing their nominations. Senior SAD leader Daljit Singh Cheema revealed that the party has formed a high-level legal team to file petitions in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, citing complaints of “large-scale rejection” of nominations from opposition candidates.
“We have been approaching the State Election Commission with our complaints, but they have not been addressed,” Cheema said. The SAD has called on all workers and leaders who faced obstacles in filing their nominations to gather at the party office on Monday with necessary documentation and evidence of alleged wrongdoing by AAP leaders and government officials.
In response to the allegations, AAP leader and MP Malvinder Singh Kang rejected the charges, asserting that the state government is committed to maintaining transparency. He criticized previous governments of the Congress, Akali Dal, and BJP for “abusing power and undermining the electoral process.”
Kang emphasized that the upcoming panchayat elections are vital for democracy, stating, “The elections are not just a formality. They are an essential event in our democratic system, and we want every citizen to participate actively and freely.”
He also highlighted the increase in the number of nominations for the upcoming elections compared to the last panchayat elections in 2018, where the total number of nominations for the position of sarpanch rose from 48,111 to 52,825, and for the post of ‘panch’ from 162,383 to 166,338.
“This is a clear indication that our government is encouraging citizens to take part in democracy, and they are responding positively,” Kang stated, reaffirming AAP’s commitment to empowering the people of Punjab and ensuring their engagement in the democratic process without fear.
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