The Aman Sandesh Times
Chandigarh : The upcoming Panchayat elections in Punjab continue to face roadblocks, leaving the candidates at the receiving end.
Recently, the Punjab and Haryana High Court stayed the poll process in villages covered by 275 petitions that had alleged violation of norms during the course of filing and scrutiny of nomination papers.
The case will now be heard on October 14, a day before the panchayat elections are scheduled on October 15.
With just four days to the Panchayat polls being the tension, the candidates have no time for campaigning.
At this time when the tension has flared up in Punjab, the opposition is demanding the complete cancellation of the Panchayat poll.
Welcoming Punjab and Haryana High Court’s decision that has stayed elections to all villages covered under 270 petitions filed before the court, the SAD President demanded the cancellation of the panchayat elections in Punjab that have been marred by alleged rampant illegalities.
“The truth is that this unanimity was forced by AAP functionaries and this is why we have demanded that the election be held afresh.”
Asserting that he had never seen such oppression of the Opposition during his 40-year political journey, Badal said “it is for the first time that lists were revised after submission of nomination papers and completion of scrutiny to deny opposition candidates the right to contest the elections”.
He also charged AAP ministers and MLAs of engaging in corruption by taking money for the submission of papers as well as ensuring the “unanimous” election of candidates.
An official spokesperson of the Punjab State Election Commission said that a total nominations withdrawal by candidates for Sarpanches are 20,147 and total nominations withdrawal by candidates for Panches are 31381 as on 07 October 2024 for Gram Panchayat Elections.