Cong feud comes to fore over candidates

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 19

Factionalism among Congress leaders came to the fore during the filing of nomination papers for the forthcoming panchayat elections. Today was the last day of filing papers.

A total of 13,276 sarpanches and 83,831 panches will be elected in 13,276 villages.

Differences cropped up between party leaders and the MLAs over the choice of candidates to be fielded. “While first-time MLAs are insisting on their choice of nominees, senior leaders in their constituencies are favouring others,” said a senior leader of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC).

Though the elections are not being fought on party symbol, district and block-level leaders have raised the banner of revolt against MLAs in Muktsar, Faridkot, Ferozepur and Gurdaspur districts. Complaints have been received from Ferozepur (Rural), Guruharshai, Zira, Lambi, Jaito and Muktsar.

PPCC chief Sunil Jakhar said the elections were not being fought on party symbol. Efforts were being made to bring about consensus on the selection of candidates among the leaders. Zira MLA Kulbir Singh Zira said a number of panchayats had already arrived at a consensus over the choice of candidates.

Congress leaders have also been objecting to the Panchayats and Rural Development Department ignoring their recommendation to implement the reservation policy. A senior government functionary said: “Efforts were made to accommodate the area MLA and other Congress leaders.”

The SEC, meanwhile, has sought explanation from Moga DC Sandeep Hans for cancelling the poll process of three panchayats in the district, while citing an order of the department on amalgamation of panchayats.

AAP leaders to meet SEC

An AAP delegation will meet the State Election Commissioner on the issue of the alleged highhandedness of Congress leaders. Leader of Opposition Harpal Singh Cheema alleged that the administrative officers were playing into the hands of the Congress by creating obstacles for Opposition candidates.

9,692 file papers for posts of sarpanch 

Officials in the State Election Commission said though the total figure was yet to be revealed, 9,692 nominations papers had been filed for the posts of sarpanch and 27,377 for panch till December 18.

Two commandos injured in clash

Ferozepur: Two state police commandos were injured during a stone-pelting incident, which took place on the last day of filing of nomination papers for the panchayat elections. Sources said two warring groups of the ruling party clashed over the filing of nomination papers at Government Polytechnic College in the city. They hurled bricks at each other during which two commandos, including Samanpreet Singh who was hit in the head, were injured. They were admitted to the local civil hospital. Puspinder Kumar, SHO, City police station, said they were trying to ascertain the identity of the accused. The sources said the police had detained a few persons, but no FIR had been registered till the filing of the report. OC

Supporters clash, tear papers

Fazilka: Tension erupted in the local market committee office on Wednesday when the members of two groups belonging to Kandhwala Hazarkhan village tore the nomination papers of each other candidates on the last day of filing the papers for the panchayat elections. Sources said at the time of filing the nomination papers for the post of sarpanch of Kandhwala Hazarkhan village, supporters of two candidates assaulted each other with wooden sticks and tore the papers resulting in tension on the Market Committee office premises. Soon heavy police force was deployed there. SP (Headquarters) Jaswinder Singh Gharu said the issue was resolved after the police intervention. However, no one has lodged any report with the police. OC

Assistant poll officer suspended

Muktsar: The State Election Commission has ordered for the suspension of Assistant Returning Officer (ARO) Navreet Singh Ghuman. Ghuman was appointed as the ARO, Zone 8, for panchayat polls, but he failed to report on poll duty. “The SDM had sent the report in this regard and the State Election Commission has ordered to suspend him,” said MK Aravind Kumar, DC, Muktsar. The commission has also directed that the officer might not be reinstated before getting its recommendations. Meanwhile, the SDM had also sought approval from the commission to appoint someone else as the ARO, which was also granted. TNS