‘Harassed’, Opposition nominees want Patiala MC poll deferred
A majority of candidates from the Opposition parties contesting the upcoming Municipal Corporation elections have alleged harassment by authorities and “gross violations of democratic principles” during the electoral process. They have accused local AAP leaders of intimidation with the support of the police.
Sources said many candidates from the BJP, Congress and SAD were missing from the poll campaigning given the alleged “threats received and fear of registration of false cases against them”.
“Cops have summoned me twice. A message was conveyed through a relative for me to reach the police station as a complaint was pending against me. I know if I go there, they will hold me on flimsy grounds. They just don’t want us to campaign,” said a candidate.
Alleging electoral ‘malpractices’, former Mayor and SAD halqa incharge Amrinder Singh Bazaz has written to the Patiala Deputy Commissioner-cum-Election Officer for cancelling the election and holding it later under the supervision of Central forces.
“I am compelled to bring to your immediate attention the gross violations of democratic principles and extensive electoral malpractices that transpired during the recent Municipal Corporation election process in Patiala. The severity of these incidents has rendered the election completely illegitimate, and it requires your urgent intervention. The police have shockingly failed to act against the perpetrators and in many cases apparently supported their unlawful activities,” reads the letter.
“I am attaching a comprehensive video footage and other evidence that unequivocally depict incidents of violence, intimidation, and systematic denial of fundamental democratic rights,” said Bazaz, while adding, “I demand immediate cancellation of the election. Also, a thorough and impartial investigation must be initiated into the incidents of rigging, violence and police complicity.”
Punjab Youth Congress president Mohit Mohindra has already said their party would approach the court as their candidates were not even allowed to file nominations and those left in the fray were being hounded during their campaign.
Former MP and BJP leader Preneet Kaur alleged that AAP local leaders were intimidating their candidates and “not allowing them to campaign freely” even as the authorities have turned mute spectators.
A senior police official said that they are not intervening in the democratic process and “acting on complaints from anyone”. “We are ensuring law and order. We don’t intend to intimidate or harass anyone, irrespective of their party lines,” said the official.
Senior Punjab AAP spokesperson Neel Garg said the Opposition was already short of candidates. They do not have any issue on which they could seek votes, which was why they were levelling allegations against the police and the administration. “Instead of contesting the polls, they are trying their best to ensure these are deferred. The AAP government has done development works at the grassroots level and the SAD, Congress and BJP apprehend losing the polls,” he said.
