PANCHAYAT ELECTIONS: Paper rejection after allotment of symbol sparks row, probe marked

The State Election Commission on Tuesday marked a probe as nomination papers of aspirants owing allegiance to the Congress got rejected after allotment of symbols in 29 out of 52 villages of the Gidderbaha Assembly segment in Muktsar district.

Similar complaints surfaced from Ropar district where nomination papers of hopefuls from 22 out of 95 villages were rejected after allotment of symbols.

Sources said around 200 complaints had landed at the office of the State Election Commission in this regard.

State Election Commissioner Raj Kamal Chaudhari said he had sought a report from the Muktsar Deputy Commissioner regarding the allegations of candidature being rejected after allotment of symbols.

For the last few days, the opposition parties had been alleging that the entire government machinery was working on the directions of the Aam Aadmi Party. Today’s development has added yet another dimension to the set of controversies surrounding the panchayat poll scheduled for October 15.

The list of rejected aspirants was displayed late last night or in the wee hours after allotment of symbols at several places, said anxious villagers.

Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, who sat on an indefinite dharna in Gidderbaha, said he had sought details from all district heads of the party before taking legal action.

Senior SAD leader Dr Daljit Singh Cheema said they had filed 25 petitions against gross malpractices in the panchayat poll by AAP ministers, legislators and government officials concerned.

He added that another 30-odd petitions would be filed tomorrow to demand justice for SAD workers.