Batala BJP files code plaint against SAD

Ravi Dhaliwal

Tribune News Service

Gurdaspur, January 5

Nothing seems to be going well between alliance partners SAD and BJP in Batala.

Municipal Committee president and senior BJP leader Naresh Mahajan is learnt to have brought complained to SDM Pirthi Singh that Akali Dal candidate LS Lodhinangal was allegedly distributing blue cards, meant for Atta-Dal scheme beneficiaries, from his office.

Though Lodhinangal, who is pitted against Gurpreet Singh Waraich (AAP) and Ashwani Sekhri (Congress), denied any wrongdoing, the SDM said action would be taken following an investigation.

Candidates of the mainline parties have taken it upon themselves to keep tabs on electoral malpractices of their rivals here.

In Gurdaspur, a truck laden with ration meant for BPL families was impounded by the police after a candidate brought the incident to the notice of SDM Sandeep Singh.

The SDM dispatched a team to Sangalpura road area where the intended beneficiaries lived. A case under IPC Section 171 (B) (giving gratification to a person with the aim of inducing him to exercise his electoral right) has been registered.

“The ration has been confiscated and a case registered against unknown persons. Since the driver and his accomplice fled, we are still ascertaining at whose behest the ration was to be distributed,” he said.

Local Akali Dal MLA GS Babbehali, who is seeking a third term, meanwhile, had foundation stone ceremonies lined up for the next few days. But all these ventures have now been cancelled. “The MLA was to inaugurate certain projects but when I informed him of the futility of doing so, he immediately backtracked,” said Deputy Commissioner Pardeep Sabharwal.