Opposition corners govt over paper rejection

The political scene has heated up in Gidderbaha segment, which will shortly witness Assembly bypoll, following the cancellation of nominations of several candidates in the panchayat poll.

Demanding revision of list of eligible candidates, Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring lodged a protest for around 30 hours outside the SDM office and blocked the Malout-Bathinda road.

Addressing his supporters, Warring said, “We are lifting the blockade as Election Observer MS Jaggi has assured us that the State Election Commission will probe the matter in a fair manner. However, we will burn effigies of Deputy Commissioner Rajesh Tripathi and Gidderbaha SDM Jaspal Singh Brar in those 29 villages, where nominations of aspirants owing allegiance to the Congress were cancelled despite allocation of symbols.”

Earlier in the day, the Congress activists blocked the Fazilka-Delhi road at Malout.

The SAD too has started preparations for its protest against gross malpractices in the panchayat poll on Thursday, which would be led by party chief Sukhbir Badal, who has kept his public programmes suspended for over a month, after being declared ‘tankhaiya’ by Akal Takht on August 30.

Yesterday, Sukhbir met Muktsar ADC (D) Surinder Singh Dhillon and sought revision of lists within the next two days. Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal today visited Gidderbaha and held the AAP government responsible for the row.

Further, differences between local AAP leaders came to the fore today. Hardeep Singh Dimpy Dhillon, who is a front-runner for the AAP ticket for the Gidderbaha bypoll, today held a press conference and accused some of his own party leaders for being hand in glove with the Congress. He said, “Those who represented the party earlier in the area are playing a fixed match with the Congress. Thus, they are now disturbed.” Around three AAP activists had claimed that their nominations were also cancelled without any reason.

Senior BJP leader Manpreet Singh Badal and Warring, who had defeated the former in 2012 from this segment, resorted to a verbal duel.

DC Tripathi said, “I was on half-day leave yesterday. Warring spoke rudely over the phone with me. No aspirant complained to me or the election observer in this regard.”