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Wednesday, January 29, 2003, Chandigarh, India

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Cong sweeps panchayat samiti poll
Tribune Reporters

Chandigarh, January 28
It was a cakewalk for the Congress in the elections to the posts of chairman and vice-Chairman of 140 block samitis in Punjab today.

Congress candidates were declared elected in 84 block samitis while the main Opposition party could register win only in seven blocks.

According to official sources, elections were either suspended or postponed in 42 blocks. Only in two blocks — one each in Kapurthala and Ferozepore — Independents were declared elected chairmen of their respective samitis.

The overwhelming victory of the Congress candidates was in all three regions — Majha, Malwa and Doaba. It was only in Ludhiana that SAD nominees won in two blocks while only one candidate won in Amritsar, Kapurthala, Nawanshahr, Bathinda and Ropar. The party drew a blank in remaining districts, including Muktsar, the home district of SAD chief Parkash Singh Badal.

The maximum postponements were in Jalandhar where out of 10 samitis, elections could be held in only four while in Bathinda, postponement was ordered in five of the eight samitis.

AMRITSAR: Amid allegations of ‘large-scale interference’ by district administration, elections to six out of 16 block samitis were postponed while the Congress registered a landslide by winning nine samiti elections.

While the only Akali candidate, Ms Ranjit Kaur, won the election from Naushehra Pannuan, the elections of Majitha, Gandiwind, Patti, Bhikhiwind and Chohla Sahib were post poned. The nine Congress candidates — Ms Gurpal Kaur (Ajnala), Mr Balkar Singh (Rayya), Ms Bachan Kaur (Khadoor Sahib), Mr Balwinder Singh (Harsha China), Mr Harjit Singh (Jandiala Guru), Mr Harpal Singh (Verka), Mr Balora Singh (Chogawan), Mr Gurmit Singh (Tarsika) and Mr Kuldip Singh (Valtoha) — won the election.

Mr Adesh Partap Singh alleged that the police had picked up Mr Harsha Singh and Mr Gyan Singh — the Akali block samiti members from their native villages — Bhaowal and Gharyala, respectively so that they could not take part in the election.

PHAGWARA: The alliance of the SAD, the BJP and the BSP today defeated the ruling Congress by capturing both posts of chairman and vice-chairman of the local panchayat samiti. Ms Krishna Kainth (BSP) of Mauli village and Mr Nachhattar Ram (SAD) of Bhakhriana village were elected chairperson and vice-chairman of the samiti, respectively.

Local SDM-cum-Presiding Officer Pritam Singh told newspersons that Ms Kainth was polled 10 votes while Ms Upinder Kaur was polled seven votes in the election to the post of chairperson. Two votes were cancelled. Mr Nachhattar Ram was polled 11 votes while his opponent Shingara Ram was polled eight votes.

Baldev Singh Bhanoki was debarred from voting by Mr J.R. Kundal, Secretary, Rural Development and Panchayat Punjab, under Section 113 (1) of the Panchayati Raj Act, 1994, he added.

BATHINDA: The elections to five out of eight panchayat samitis in the district were postponed as quorum for the respective samitis was not complete. The elections for the posts of chairman and vice-chairman for Bathinda, Phul and Maur were held, while the elections to Rampura, Talwandi Sabo, Nathana, Sangat and Bhagta samitis were postponed. Ms Angrej Kaur was elected chairperson of panchayat samiti, Bathinda, while Mr Jasuttam Singh Teona was elected vice-chairman. For Phul samiti Mr Gurjeet Singh and Mr Nirmal Singh were elected chairman and vice-chairman, respectively. Ms Narinderjeet Kaur was elected chairperson and Mr Karnail Singh vice-chairman for Maur panchayat samiti. Information gathered by this correspondent revealed that the major cause for the postponement of elections was the factionalism in the Congress.

Out of 15 elected members of panchayat samitis of Nathana, seven belonged to the SAD(B), six to the Congress, one to the Lok Bhalai Party and one Independent. Besides, Akali MLA of the area, Mr Gura Singh Tungwali, also won the election. Members of the Congress remained absent.

FARIDKOT: The Congress captured both the block samitis of Faridkot and Kot Kapura in this district when all its four members were declared elected unopposed in the elections to the posts of chairman and vice-chairman of the samitis held on Tuesday.

Mr Chhinder Pal Singh and Mrs Daljit Kaur were elected chairman and vice-chairperson from Faridkot, respectively, whereas Mrs Surinderpal Kaur and Mr Binder Singh won as chairperson and vice-chairman, respectively, from Kot Kapura, according to Mr Davinder Singh, SDM-cum-Assistant Returning Officer.

FATEHGARH SAHIB: The elections to five block samitis of the district were held unanimously. The results are: Sirhind: Ms Manmohan Kaur was elected chairperson and Ms Sukhjit Singh Punia as vice-president. Bassi Pathana: chairman — Mr Gurwinder Singh Sekhupura; and vice president — Ms Dalbir Kaur; Amloh: Mr Dilbag Singh Bhambri and Ms Mohinder Kaur Badali were elected chairman and vice-chairperson, respectively; Khera: chairperson — Ms Amrit Kaur; vice-chairperson — Ms Amarjit Kaur; Khamano: Chairman — Mr Harbans Singh Pandher; and vice-president — Mr Avtar Singh Suhavi. The Deputy Commissioner said the elections to the Zila Parishads, which were earlier scheduled for February 4 would now be held on February 7.

GURDASPUR: The Congress swept the elections to the posts of chairman and vice-chairman of various panchayat samitis in the district. All elections, except election to the post vice-chairman of the Narot Jaimal Singh panchayat samiti were held unanimously.

SAD-BJP candidates could not even open their account.

The following have been elected: Gurdaspur: chairman — Mr Keshav Bahl; and vice-chairman — Mr Chuni Lal of Gurdas Nangal; Dina Nagar: chairman — Mr Raghbir Singh of Kaleejpur; and vice-chairman — Mr Lal Singh of Bhabhra; Batala: chairperson — Ms Sukhwant Kaur of Chahal Khurd; and vice-chairman — Mr Harmohan Singh of Viro Nangal; Qadian: chairman — Mr Manjit Singh of Wadala Granthian; and vice chairperson — Ms Kulbir Kaur of Dalla; Dhar Kalan: chairman — Mr Bhim Sain of Dunera; and vice-chairperson — Ms Nirmala Devi of Siartee; Sujanpur: chairperson — Ms Krishma Rani of Falora; and vice-chairperson — Ms Bishna Devi of Khudawar; Pathankot: chairman — Mr Jasbir Singh of Ghura Kalan; and vice chairperson — Mr Rattan Kaur of Raj Pura; and Dera Baba Nanak: chairman — Mr Satwant Singh of Nurpur; and vice-chairman — Kulwant Singh of Agwan.

HOSHIARPUR: Out of 10 block samitis of the district, elections to the posts of chairman and vice-chairman of 5 were held and the Congress won in all the blocks. The elections to the samitis of Hajipur, Tanda, Bhunga, Mahilpur and Garhshanker were not held due to incomplete quorum. Mr Kirandeep Singh Bhullar, Deputy Commissioner, said in Dasuya Mr Jhirmal Singh was elected chairman and Mr Piara Lal vice-chairman; in Hoshiarpur-I Mr Bhagat Ram was elected chairman and Ms Harbhajan Kaur vice-chairperson; in Hoshiarpur-II Ms Bhupinder Kaur was elected chairperson and Mr Gurjit Ram vice-chairman; in Mukerian Ms Gurbaksh Kaur and Mr Dhian Singh were elected chairperson and vice-chairman respectively, and in Talwara Ms Sushma Kumari was elected chairman and Mr Dharam Singh vice-chairman.

JALANDHAR: The ruling Congress captured four block samitis of the district while elections to six block samitis were postponed for the lack of quorum. The Congress nominees for the four block samitis were elected unopposed. Mohinder Singh and Harminder Singh were elected chairman and vice-chairman, respectively, for the Adampur block samiti. Ms Ravinder Kaur and Piare Lal of the Congress won the posts of chairman and vice-chairman, respectively of Jalandhar West block samiti while at the Bhogpur block samiti election Sital Singh and Balbir Singh were declared elected chairman and vice-chairman, respectively. The District Electoral Officer, Mr K. Siva Prasad, said the elections to Lohian, Jalandhar East, Noormahal, Rurka Kalan, Shahkot and Nakodar block samitis were postponed for the lack of quorum. Elections for Noormahal, Rurka Kalan and Nakodar would be held on January 29 while Shahkot, Lohian and Jalandhar East would be held on January 30.

KAPURTHALA: With two opposition members switching their loyalties to the Congress, the party succeeded to gain majority in the local panchayat samiti. The members who supported the Congress nominee were Mr Buta Ram and Mr Shingara Ram. Mr Joginder Singh Sidhu (Congress) was elected chairman while Mr Sucha Singh Khaira (Independent) was elected vice-chairman unanimously. In election to the Panchayat samiti, Nadala, Ms Nirmal Kaur and Ms Satwinder Kaur were elected chairperson and vice-chairperson respectively.

At Dhilwan only election to the post of vice-chairman was held while election to the post of chairman was postponed. Baljit Kaur was elected vice-chairperson. Election to the Sultanpur Lodhi samiti were also postponed.

MALERKOTLA (BLOCK II): chairperson — Ms Mukhtiar Kaur Bhogiwal (Congress); and vice-chairperson — Ms Kuldip Kaur Kup Kalan (Congress); Barnala: chairman — Mr Teja Singh Pandher (Congress); and vice-chairperson — Ms Sukhjit Kaur Aspal Kalan (Congress). Sehna: chairman — Mr Atma Singh (Congress); and vice-chairperson — Ms Ranjit Kaur (Congress); Mehalkalan: chairperson — Ms Harwinder Kaur Dhaner (Congress); and vice-chairman — Mr Kulwinder Singh Gehlan (Congress); Sherpur: chairman — Mr Raghbir Singh Inabajwa (Congress); and vice-chairman — Mr Krishan Singla (Congress).

PHILLAUR: The Congress captured the local panchayat samiti. SDM Sandeep Hans, who supervised the election as presiding officer, said Ekam Ram and Nirmal Singh were elected chairman and vice-chairman, respectively, in the elections unanimously.

ROPAR: The election to the Ropar block samiti was postponed. The pandemonium in the election was created when the Anandpur Sahib MLA and Minister of State for Public Health, Mr Ramesh Dutt Sharma, entered the polling hall and expressed his desire to vote in the capacity of MLA. He was, however, not allowed to vote. The Congress minister, however, lodged his protest in writing to the presiding officer, SDM Ropar, Mr Daljit Singh. After the minister had left the hall the Congrees members also left the hall. The presiding officer then postponed the election. In the Kharar block also the elections were postponed due to the lack of the quorum. In all other block samitis of the district the elections were held unanimously. In Anandpur Sahib, Congress member Surat Singh was elected president and Sarwan Singh of the Congress as vice-president. In Nurpurbedi Manohar Lal and Prem Dass both of the Congress were elected president and vice-president, respectively. In Chamkaur Sahib SAD members Gurmeet Singh Jatana and Bakshish Singh were elected president and vice-president respectively. In Majri Ram Singh of the Congress was elected as president.

SANGRUR: In the elections to the posts of chairman and vice-chairman of different blocks panchayat samitis in the district, the Congress won all posts except one, in the nine block panchayat samitis. Election to the Sunam block panchayat samiti was postponed due to lack of quorum. The following have been elected. Sangrur: Chairperson — Ms Sita Rani Ubhawal (Congress); and vice-chairman — Mr Darshan Singh Badrukhan (an Independent); Bhawanigarh: chairperson — Mr Labh Kaur Balial (Congress); and vice-chairman — Mr Hari Singh Phaguwala (Congress); Lehragaga: chairman — Mr Jaga Singh of Bhai Ke Pishore (Congress); and vice-chairman — Mr Mukhtiar Singh (Congress); Dhuri: chairman — Mr Gurjant Singh Palasor (Congress); and vice-chairperson — Ms Manjit Kaur Kandhargarh (Congress);

TARN TARAN: The election to the posts of chairman and vice-chairman of the local block samiti were postponed till tomorrow due to the lack of quoram. There are 24 members, including the MLA, in the samiti. Only 14 members of the SAD turned up. The election to the office-bearers of Chohla Sahib and Patti samitis too were postponed due to lack of quoram. Ms Bachan Kaur (Congress) and Ms Davinder Kaur (Congress) were elected chairperson and vice-chairperson, respectively, to the block samiti, Khadoor Sahib. The Congress retained the posts of chairman and vice-chairman of block samiti, Valtoha, as Mr Kuldeep Singh and Mr Gurmej Singh were elected, respectively, for these posts. The SAD captured the Naushehra Pannuan block samiti. Bibi Ranjit Kaur was elected chairperson and Mr Baldev Singh was elected vice-chairman.

Block samiti poll: infighting in Congress
Our Correspondent

Dera Bassi, January 28
The Congress with a strength of 16 members in the local block samiti failed to prove its two-third majority to claim the seat of the Chairman of the Block Samiti because of the ongoing infighting among members of its two groups.

The election to the post of the chairman of the samiti was adjourned by the Sub Divisional Magistrate, who is also the Presiding Officer of the elections, till further orders amid high drama outside the Block Development and Panchayat Office here today.

Mediapersons were not allowed to enter the premises of the election venue for over one-and-a-half hours.

It all happened when Ms Sheelam Sohi, a member of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, along with 12 members (10 belonging to the Congress and two from the Shiromani Akali Dal, (SAD) reached the office of the BDPO while other six members, associated with her rival groups failed to turn up.

The strength was insufficient to form a quorum of 14 members to elect the Chairman of the samiti following which the elections were adjourned by Mr Amarjit Singh Dhindsa, the returning officer.

Of the 16 block samiti members belonging to the Congress six avoided the election since their demand — the proposal of the post of the Chairman — was not entertained by Ms Sohi and her supporters. To express their resentment these six members reportedly boycotted the election process. The group was reportedly headed by Mr RR Bhardwaj, Deputy Chairman of the State Planing Board.

Sources revealed that the dissidents were differing over the candidature of Mr Bahadur Singh Jharmari for the post of the Chairman. They had proposed three names — Mr Bhupinder Singh, Mr Shamsher Singh and Ms Geetanjali Gujjar — for the Chairman’s post.

Highly placed sources disclosed that to stake claim on the post of the Chairman both groups of the Congress had been luring away.

Playing a safe game, the SAD extended its support of two members to Sohi’s rival group.

Talking to mediapersons, Mr Balbir Singh Bartana, father -in-law of Ms Sohi, alleged that Ms Praneet Kaur, MP, Patiala, was pressurising them to withdraw the candidature of Mr Jharmari for the post of chairmanship.

When contacted, Ms Sohi made it clear that the samiti Chairman would be definitely from her group as she was enjoying the support of majority of the members. She also held other allegations levelled against her as baseless.

Mr R.R. Bhardwaj, however, denied any groupism among the party. He also denied restraining six Congress members from the election process.

Meanwhile, Capt. Kanwaljit Singh, General Secretary of the SAD, alleged that the Sohi’s group used unfair means to ensure its claim over the post of the Chairman.

Samiti chairman’s election deferred
Our Correspondent

Kharar, January 28
The election to the chairman and vice-chairman of the Panchayat Samiti was today postponed due to the absence of quorum.

Although Dr Harbans Kaur, general secretary of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, was present as an observer from the Congress High Command, she too alleged that the elections had been postponed due to some pressure. She also carried a sealed envelope that contained the name of the prospective candidate for the election. While talking to the mediapersons, she expressed surprise at the postponement and added that they had complete majority with them and that 15 members out of total 26 had accompanied them. She alleged that the police did not allow the members to enter the room where the elections were due to be held.

The SDM, Mr S.S. Gill, who was the returning officer for the election, while talking to this correspondent said he had deferred the election for the lack of quorum, as required 18 members were not present in the election room.

Meanwhile, Mr Kuljeet Singh Bedi, president of the Block Congress Committee, has expressed his dissatisfaction over the poll process.

The MLA, Mr Bir Devinder Singh, denied the allegations that the poll had been deferred due to his pressure. He added that he had gone to the venue only to cast his vote. He said anyone who had the majority should get elected.

Congress sweeps samiti poll
Our Correspondent

Patiala, January 28
Congressmen were unanimously elected Chairmen of as many as seven block samitis out of nine in the district even as elections to the Rajpura and Dera Bassi Samitis were postponed due to complaints of threat of violence.

An official press note here said the Congressmen were elected unanimously in all the block samitis which went to the poll today. In the Patiala block, Sanjayinder Singh Chahal was elected Chairman, while Paramjit Kaur was elected Vice-Chairperson. In Sanour, Nirmal Kaur was elected Chairperson while Swaran Singh was elected Vice Chairman. In Bhunherheri, Satwinder Kaur was elected Chairman while Sadhu Singh was elected Vice Chairman.

In Patran, Lachman Singh was elected Chairman while Chander Kala was elected Vice-Chairperson. In Nabha, Nachhattar Kaur was elected Chairperson while Hardev Singh was elected Vice Chairman. In Ghanour, Gurmeet Kaur was elected as Chairperson while Surjit Singh was elected as Vice Chairman.