Zone boundaries altered to help AAP: Cong

Punjab’s ruling AAP and the Congress on Wednesday sparred over the delineation of zila parishad zones in Ropar, with the state’s main Opposition party accusing the government of deliberately altering the boundaries to gain electoral advantage.

Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains rejected the allegations as “baseless and politically motivated, saying the zone boundaries and reservation categories were notified four months ago, giving political parties adequate time to submit objections.

The zila parishad and block samiti elections are scheduled for December 14, with Thursday being the last for the filing of nominations.

The district has been divided into 10 zones for the zila parishad polls.

Levelling the allegations, senior Congress leader and former Speaker Rana KP alleged that limits of multiple Zila Parishad zones in Ropar had been expanded in an “arbitrary and irrational” manner, with certain zones spread across nearly 40 kilometres.

He claimed that the reservation roster had also been “manipulated” to favour ruling AAP. “Despite these unfair changes, the Congress will contest the elections with full strength at the grassroots level,” he asserted.

Countering the allegations, Bains said, “It is surprising that the Congress has suddenly woken up to raise objections now when nominations have already begun. They had every opportunity to challenge the notified zones earlier.”

Bains said the government had followed due procedure in finalising the wards.

BJP to contest from all zones

The BJP, traditionally stronger in urban pockets, has decided to contest the rural polls from all zones. Party’s state vice-president Subhash Sharma said they would field candidates in all Ropar 10 zones. “We are not concerned about how the zones have been shaped or reservation rosters made. The BJP has expanded its reach in rural Punjab and will prove its mettle in the polls,” Sharma said.