AAP wins Nakodar Block Samiti chief poll amid Cong protest

The election to the Block Samiti Chairman in Nakodar on Friday turned controversial after the Congress alleged intimidation, misuse of power and administrative interference during the polling process.

Despite the controversy, Charanjit Singh, member, Block Samiti from Talhi Zone (formerly associated with the Congress), was declared Chairman of Block Samiti, Nakodar, while Jiwan Singh, member, Block Samiti from Nurpur, belonging to AAP, was declared the Vice-Chairman.

Raising serious allegations over the conduct of the election, Nakodar Congress halka in-charge Dr Navjot Dahiya termed the entire episode a “murder of democracy.”

Speaking to The Tribune on Friday evening, Dr Dahiya alleged that the ruling party and the local MLA misused their authority and exerted pressure through the police and administration to influence the outcome of the election.

According to him, the Congress had the support of 11 of 19 members in the Block Samiti and prior to the election, these members were even presented before the media. However, he claimed that the ruling party, apprehending defeat, used the police and administrative machinery to manipulate the election process.

On the other hand, AAP Nakodar MLA Inderjit Kaur Mann claimed that the voting was held in the most cordial atmosphere with all video recording done. "There were 18 candidates who had come to cast the vote as one Congress woman candidate did not turn up, fearing arrest in a case. I also cast my vote as the MLA. There were 10 votes cast in favour of AAP and seven for the Congress. Two votes got cancelled owing to double stepping. So, it was a clear victory for AAP," she said.

Dr Dahiya, on the other hand, alleged that during the election proceedings, police personnel manhandled Congress leaders and workers and even resorted to a lathi-charge when they attempted to hold a protest. He also claimed that the ballot box was changed during the process, alleging that the election was manipulated as part of a planned conspiracy.

He further stated that during the commotion, some AAP workers removed their own turbans in an attempt to create chaos and later levelled accusations against the Congress leadership. Dr Dahiya claimed that the sequence of events was recorded in CCTV cameras installed at the site, which, according to him, would reveal the actual circumstances of the incident.

Criticising the state government, the Congress leader said the people had entrusted the Aam Aadmi Party with power with high expectations, but the government was now allegedly undermining democratic values to maintain political control.

Dr Dahiya further alleged that the incident reflected an unprecedented situation where the government and the administration were working together to influence a democratic process. He claimed that this indicated the lack of confidence in the mandate of the people.

He added that the residents of Nakodar were closely observing the developments and would respond politically. The Congress, he said, would continue to raise the issue at various forums and pursue the matter at higher levels to ensure protection of democratic values in the state.