EC seeks report on ‘misuse’ of official machinery in run-up to Punjab zila parishad polls

The State Election Commission has sought a report from Patiala and Tarn Taran deputy commissioners over alleged misuse of official machinery by ruling AAP to prevent Opposition leaders from filing nominations for the zila parishad and block samiti polls.

The state government has also been asked to immediately send election observers across Punjab while the poll panel asked all deputy commissioners to ensure that the election staff remain on duty between 11 am and 3 pm on Thursday, the last date for the filing of nominations.

This comes amid accusations that Opposition candidates were either being physically stopped from filing nominations by ruling party leaders or unable to submit their papers due to absence of officials on poll duty.

Such incidents have allegedly been reported from Tarn Taran’s Bhikhiwind and Patti, and Patiala’s Ghanaur and Nabha.

As complaints poured in, State Election Commissioner Raj Kamal Chaudhari sought a report from both deputy commissioners.

‘Ensure presence of staff’

“I have asked the state government to send election observers immediately across the state. All deputy commissioners have been instructed to ensure that officers on election duty remain in their offices between 11 am and 3 pm on Thursday,” he said.

“I have also directed SSPs of all districts to maintain law and order on the last day of the filing of nominations,” Chaudhari told The Tribune.

Meanwhile, 285 candidates filed their nominations for the zila parishad and 1,713 for panchayat samiti elections scheduled to be held on December 14.

AAP declares 2,720 candidates

State’s ruling AAP released three lists of total 2,720 candidates. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) too released its list of candidates.

According to sources, AAP leaders have been told by the party leadership that the polls were a “test of their political mettle” and results would decide their candidature in the 2027 Assembly poll.

On the other hand, Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal personally went to Bhikhiwind and Patti, claiming his party leaders were prevent from filing their nomination papers.