Just 13 of 60 Patiala nominees left in the fray, BJP cries foul

A day after the BJP alleged that the nominations papers of its candidates were snatched while they were approaching the Mini Secretariat to file them, the candidature of only 13 party candidates have been cleared for election to the 60-member Patiala MC House.

BJP Patiala (Urban) president and former councillor Vijay Kumar Kuka is among the 47 candidates whose nomination papers were either cancelled or taken away.

Kuka, whose candidature from ward No. 50 was cancelled today following a scrutiny of papers, said 32 candidates were fielded for the MC polls and the candidature of only 13 was approved. The nomination papers of the remaining candidates were cancelled.

He said the nomination papers of 28 BJP candidates, including Varun Jindal, former vice-president of Patiala (Urban) unit, were taken away.

For instance, the nomination papers of 34 candidates contesting from ward No. 46 to 60 was cleared after the scrutiny. Fifteen of them were from AAP, seven from the Congress, five from BJP, four from SAD and three Independents.

While Congress leader Mohit Mohindra and BJP leader Jai Inder Kaur accused the ruling party of hijacking the elections, AAP Patiala (urban) president Tajinder Mehta said the rival parties were levelling baseless allegations. Both BJP and Congress are planning to move court and seek remedy.

The Devigarh Nagar Panchayat elections appear to be formality as all 24 candidates whose candidatures have been cleared are from AAP.

Anindita Mitra, the Observer for the Patiala MC, reviewed the scrutiny of nomination papers and preparations for the civic polls.