SAD asks SEC to take action against officers indulging in electoral malpractices
(Asks for requisition of para –military forces, demands videography of municipal elections)
(Gives instances of malpractices being done by officers to SEC)
Chandigarh, January 15 – The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today asked the State Election Commission (SEC) to take action against officers who were indulging in electoral malpractices at the instance of Congress leaders even as it demanded requisitioning of para-military forces and videography of the forthcoming municipal elections in the State.
A SAD delegation including Dr Daljit Singh Cheema, Sikander Singh Maluka, N K Sharma, Charanjit Singh Brar, Parambans Singh Romana and Barjinder Singh Brar met SEC Jagpal Singh Sandhu in this regard here and asserted the Congress party had hijacked the electoral process and deadlines and guidelines fixed by the SEC were not being followed. “This has the propensity to vitiate the peaceful atmosphere of the State like it happened in the case of the Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti Elections earlier”, the delegation of senior party leaders told the SEC.
Interacting with the SEC, the delegation members demanded that videography be allowed both inside the booth as well as in the office of the Returning Officers to ward off booth capturing and other malpractices. It said in case SEC guidelines did not allow this, the Commission should allow the candidates to videograph the proceedings at their own cost. The delegation also demanded that online filing of nominations be allowed and candidates issued No Dues certificates on the basis of self declarations pending verification.
Delegation members including Parambans Romana and Barjinder Brar gave instances of shifting of votes from rural to urban areas by officers at the instance of Congress leaders. The delegation also pointed out how in Ferozepur as well as other places ward delimitation was being done as per the choice of the Congress candidates. “Even the list is not being provided to the opposition”, the delegation told the SEC.
Later briefing newsmen, Dr Daljit Cheema said the delegation also asked the SEC to establish a round the clock control room so that it could keep itself abreast with all developments and be able to take appropriate action in case of violations of the model code of conduct immediately. He also requested the Commission to make a special app which could be used by the general public to share violations. Dr Cheema said the delegation also demanded that all votes should be counted on the spot and that the polling staff should not be chosen by the Congress legislators.
