Babla seeks declaration of reserved category seats, writes to Badnore

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 10

Leader of Opposition Devinder Singh Babla today wrote to Punjab Governor and UT Administrator VP Singh Badnore about the reserved seats not being declared for the Municipal Corporation elections slated to be held in December.

This time, instead of 26 seats, elections will be held on 35 seats in Chandigarh as nine villages have been added to the civic body.

“Approximately five months are left for the Municipal Corporation elections, but till date no one is aware of any SC/ST reserve seat, women’s seat, general seat, and which year’s census is to be considered for the reservation of these wards/seats, nor is there any official confirmation on the seats,” Babla wrote to Badnore. “Till date, never have elections been held in such a way,” he said.

“Arbitrary decisions are being taken without taking political parties into confidence. Even the ward delimitation was done unilaterally without taking the political parties into confidence. It seems that the administration is taking all the decisions on the instructions of the BJP. The administration is waiting for the green signal from the BJP, then only the ward reservation will be decided,” Babla alleged.

“We also expect a foolproof system in place for the EVM machines,” Babla said, adding “we request you (Administrator) that the elections may be held with full transparency in all the wards”.

“The reservation of wards should be announced soon to ensure that elections shall be held in fair and transparent manner without coming under any pressure from anyone in the best interest of the spirit of Indian democracy and electoral system,” he wrote.