PANCHAYAT ELECTIONS: Long queues, endless wait for candidates at nomination sites

As the deadline for filing nomination papers for the upcoming panchayat elections ended on Friday, all 91 Returning Officer (RO) sites in the district witnessed long queues and crowding. The elections, scheduled for October 15, involve 945 villages, with each RO handling papers from 10 to 11 villages.

Although the filing window was officially open from 11 am to 3 pm, candidates began arriving at the sites as early as 8 am. By the time the paperwork process began, serpentine queues had already formed. The process was slowed by cumbersome file work and the presence of witnesses. Each sarpanch candidate was accompanied by four witnesses, while each panch candidate had two from their respective wards.

At several locations, arrangements were inadequate. Candidates and their witnesses were forced to stand for up to six hours under difficult conditions. At the Agriculture Department office, there was no seating, shelter, or drinking water. Mandeep, who came as a witness for her brother-in-law from Lambra village, described the situation as exhausting after standing for five hours in the sun with her young child.

Raj Kumari, a veteran sarpanch from Hussainpur village who is running for re-election, expressed frustration over the lack of basic amenities. She criticised the officials for not providing seating or a token system, which could have alleviated the long wait times. Many candidates shared similar complaints, as they had to endure uncomfortable conditions while waiting for hours to submit their paperwork.

Meanwhile, at other locations, conditions were significantly better. Candidates filing at Guru Ravi Dass Bhawan and Bachat Bhawan enjoyed seating arrangements and a more organised process. Amarjit Lal, an ex-sarpanch from Wadala village, stated that while getting the necessary no-objection certificates (NOCs) was challenging, the actual nomination filing was smoother at his location.

The rush at the RO offices was exacerbated by the two government holidays on October 2 and 3, during which no papers were received. However, the Block Development and Panchayat Officer (BDPO) offices in Jalandhar remained open, issuing approximately 10,000 NOCs to candidates in the past two days. Many of these candidates, after receiving their NOCs, flocked to their respective RO offices on Friday to file their nominations, adding to the congestion.

Despite the challenges at some locations, the process moved forward, with candidates eager to participate in the upcoming elections. While some locations struggled with inadequate facilities, others managed to offer more comfortable arrangements, reflecting a disparity in preparedness across the district.

This final rush for nomination filings underscores both the enthusiasm of candidates and the need for better logistical planning in handling large crowds and ensuring smoother election processes in the future.