Dr Daljit Cheema comes down heavily on SEC, asks it why it has not taken action against Patiala SSP Varun Sharm)
CHANDIGARH: The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today said nominations of SAD candidates for contesting the Block Samiti and Zila Parishad elections had been rejected on a massive scale across the State and demanded that the deadline for filing nominations in all areas where there were complaints of highhandedness and discrimination should be extended to allow for a free and fair poll.
Addressing a press conference here, senior leader Dr Daljit Singh Cheema also called for nomination of independent Observers for the polls besides demanding stringent action including charge sheeting of police and civil officials who had vitiated the election atmosphere by acting as stooges of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government. “The party will also submit the names of Returning Officers who have acted in a partisan manner and rejected forms of opposition leaders enmasse and appeal that they should not be put on duty in the general elections in 2027”.
Dr Daljit Singh Cheema also came down heavily on the State Election Commission (SEC). He said it was condemnable that at a time when democracy was being murdered in the State and SEC had chosen to look away. “This raises disturbing questions about the integrity of the SEC as it has failed to supervise the elections in a fair and impartial manner and has also refused to take action against police officers, including Patiala SSP Varun Sharma who specifically directed police officials to stop opposition candidates from reaching the offices of Returning Officers by resorting to illegal and unconstitutional means”.
Dr Cheema also asked the SEC to immediately direct all Returning Officers to take self declarations on dues and not reject forms on flimsy grounds. He also said the SEC should direct Block Development Officers not to victimise candidates by rejecting nominations on the pretext of not being able to secure the No Due Certificate and follow a transparent method to secure NOC.
Meanwhile, giving details of mass level rejection of SAD candidates, Dr Cheema said in case of Tarn Taran out of 72 Zila Parishad seats, forms of party candidates had been rejected in 41 seats. He said in case of Block Samitis, in Tarn Taran 31 forms across 63 seats had been rejected, in Gandiwind 37 forms across 52 seats, in Khadoor Sahib 43 forms across 151 seats, in Patti 56 forms across 75 seats, in Bhikhiwind 77 forms across 100 seats, in Valtoha 56 forms across 78 seats and in Naushehra Pannuan 40 forms across 83 seats had been rejected. He said due to this a large number of seats had been won by AAP unopposed.
Dr Cheema said similarly in the Block Samiti seats in Majitha 12 SAD candidates were not allowed to file nominations and the remaining 21 seats were won by AAP unopposed. He said in Bhoa and Zira no SAD candidate was allowed to file nomination. He said in Raja Sansi candidature of 25 out of the 35 SAD contestants were rejected for the Block Samiti elections and in case of Baba Bakala 18 forms across 49 seats were rejected. He also disclosed how in the case of Fatehgarh Churian 2 forms out of 4 Zila Parishad seats and 14 forms across 25 Block Samiti seats were rejected. He said similarly a large number of SAD candidates were not allowed to file their nominations in Qadian, Jaitu, Ghanaur, Nurpur Bedi, Patran, Khanauri, Jandiala and Ajnala.