Another day of chaos over NOCs, Jalandhar Congress MLAs step in

The office of Block Development and Panchayat Officer (BDPO), Jalandhar East, witnessed hectic scenes for the third consecutive day as the panchayat poll aspirants who turned up to get the no-objection certificates (NOCs) to file nominations found authorised signatories, including the BDPO, Panchayat Secretary and JE “missing” till noon.

After getting information, Congress MLAs Pargat Singh and Sukhwinder Kotli reached the office of the BDPO. Kotli called up the officials concerned as the government had decided to issue the NOCs on October 2 and 3 (government holidays on account of Gandhi Jayanti and Agrasen Jayanti).

Kotli said the BDPO told him that he had met with an accident and could not turn up. Later, both the MLAs went to meet ADC (Development) Budhi Raj, who directed a Panchayat Officer to issue the NOCs.

As a result, 300-odd aspirants who had come to the office of the BDPO got the NOCs. The ADC announced that the office would remain open even tomorrow.

A total of 1,414 nomination papers had been filed for the panchayat poll, which includes 407 for sarpanches and 1,007 for panches till yesterday. There are 945 villages in Jalandhar.

The ADC said 91 spots had been finalised for filing papers in the district. “All those who enter these spots by 3 pm will be able to submit their nominations,” he said.

The administration is expecting most nominations to be filed on October 4, which is the last day.