Zila parishad, block samiti polls: Candidates harassed as nomination papers snatched

With allegations of attack by AAP workers on candidates on their way to file nomination papers and videos showing even women aspirants not being spared, a total of 749 nominations were filed today, the last day of filing nominations for the elections of 23 zila parishads and 10 block samitis of 184 zones in Patiala district. The polls are to be held on December 14.

Out of these nominations, 102 were filed for zila parishad and 647 nominations for block samiti elections with Returning Officers concerned. A total of 786 nominations were filed for Block Samiti polls till date.

Earlier today, in Ghanaur, Nabha, Samana and Patran, SAD and Congress leaders alleged that the AAP activists “snatched nomination papers, while using muscle power to ensure that candidates did not reach nomination centres”.

In a video that viral from Ghanaur, a woman candidate on her way to file nomination was attacked by a man in full public view and her papers were snatched by him. The man later tried to hide his face, while some mediapersons followed him. Similar reports came from other sub-divisions where political leaders alleged that their candidates were targeted and nomination papers torn by member of the ruling party.

Meanwhile, AAP leaders denied claims of the Opposition leaders, while terming the allegations as baseless. They claimed that the Opposition parties were making political statements as their leaders “knew that they would lose in the elections”.

AAP spokesperson Neel Garg termed the allegations as completely baseless. He said the Opposition parties knew that they had lost the polls and were therefore “looking for excuses”.

“Acting swiftly on complaints, the Patiala police have registered FIRs wherever they received complaints. Four FIRs pertaining to snatching of nomination papers have been registered till now. We will ensure a smooth and fair polling process. Strict action will be taken against anyone disturbing peace,” said senior officials.

Earlier, Additional District Election Officer-cum-Additional Deputy Commissioner (Rural Development) Damanjit Singh Mann said 102 nomination papers were filed for the zila parishad elections today. With this, the total number of nomination papers reached 148, Mann said. Thirty-five nominations were filed today for the Bhunnarheri block samiti polls, he said, while adding that with this the total count of nominations had reached 42 here.

In Nabha, 114 nomination papers were filed, 81 were submitted for Ghanaur block samiti, 64 for Patiala block, 87 for Patiala rural samiti, 123 for Patran block samiti. Apart from this, 74 nomination papers were filed for Rajpura block samiti, 75 for Samana, and 55 for Sanaur block samiti till date.

The scrutiny of nomination papers will be conducted on December 5. Nominations can be withdrawn on December 6 till 3 pm.

Gandhi condemns ‘acts of intimidation’

Congress MP Dharamvira Gandhi has strongly condemned the widespread acts of alleged intimidation and hooliganism of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), its cadres, and sections of the state machinery during the zila parishad and block samiti nominations. Gandhi said acting on the advice of their Delhi leader Manish Sisodia, AAP workers and the Punjab Government indulged in blatant and extreme “gundagardi”, trampling the fundamental democratic right of citizens to freely contest elections. He recalled that similar intimidation tactics were witnessed during the recent Panchayat and Municipal Corporation elections. “I have decided to boycott the musical evening and dinner hosted today by AAP MP Vikramjit Singh Sahney. The boycott is not against Sahney personally, but against his party AAP, which has repeatedly shown disregard for democratic norms, processes, and constitutional values,” he said in a statement.