SAD alleges unfair mass rejection of nominations, seeks extension of deadline for rural polls

In view of the mass rejection of nomination papers on “flimsy” grounds, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has demanded that the deadline for the upcoming Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections be extended, and that stern action be taken against police and civil officials for their alleged high‑handedness and discrimination in favour of ruling party candidates.

Due to the rejection of forms, a large number of seats were declared won by AAP unopposed, said party’s spokesperson Dr Daljit Singh Cheema today.

Dr Cheema said that the names of the Returning Officers, who played a partisan role and rejected forms of opposition leaders in an unfair manner, would be submitted with the Chief Election Commission (CEC).

“Though the rural elections were to be conducted solely under the supervision of the State Election Commission (SEC), the idea to approach the CEC was to make sure that these officials should not be put on duty in the Assembly elections in 2027. It was condemnable that at a time when democracy was being murdered in the state, the SEC looked the other way,” he said.

Coming down heavily on the SEC, Dr Cheema said that despite the fact the SEC had declared to accept the self-declaration affidavits from the candidates who had failed to procure the No Objection Certificates (NoCs) from the local departments concerned for one reason or the other, yet seldom any compliance was being made by the ROs (returning officials).

This raises disturbing questions about the integrity of the SEC as it has failed to supervise the elections in a fair and impartial manner, alleged Dr Cheema.

“It has also refused to take action against police officers, including an SSP rank official who was exposed specifically directing his subordinate police officials to stop opposition candidates from reaching the offices of ROs by resorting to illegal and unconstitutional means,” he said.

According to Dr Cheema, out of 72 Zila Parishad seats, the SAD candidature was rejected on 41. For the Block Samitis: in Tarn Taran, 31 out of 63 forms were rejected; in Gandiwind, 37 out of 52; in Khadoor Sahib, 43 out of 151; in Patti, 56 out of 75; in Bhikhiwind, 77 out of 100; in Valtoha, 56 out of 78; and in Naushehra Pannuan, 40 out of 83 forms were rejected.

Similarly, in the Block Samiti seats in Majitha, 12 SAD candidates were not allowed to file nominations and the remaining 21 seats were won by AAP unopposed. In Bhoa and Zira, no SAD candidate was allowed to file nominations.

In Raja Sansi, candidature of 25 out of the 35 SAD contestants was rejected for the Block Samiti elections. In the case of Baba Bakala, 18 forms across 49 seats were rejected.

In Fatehgarh Churian, two forms out of four Zila Parishad seats and 14 forms across 25 Block Samiti seats were rejected.

A large number of SAD candidates were not allowed to file their nominations in Qadian, Jaitu, Ghanaur, Nurpur Bedi, Patran, Khanauri, Jandiala and Ajnala.