Cheema, along with Arshdeep Singh Kaur, stated that the AAP had conspired to have the opposition’s nominations disqualified.
Shiromani Akali Dal on Saturday accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leadership of rejecting nominations made by several of its candidates in relation to the upcoming Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections in Punjab.
Additionally, they extended their condemnation of the State Election Commission for not providing adequate oversight to ensure that elections were held in a manner consistent with the principles of free and fair elections.
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and former minister Daljit Singh Cheema also demanded the removal of Patiala Senior Superintendent of Police Varun Sharma, claiming that in a purported audio clip, Sharma, along with some senior officers, were allegedly heard conspiring to prevent opposition candidates from filing nomination papers.
Addressing the media in Chandigarh, Cheema said the State Election Commission should have removed the Patiala SSP in order to restore people’s confidence in fair elections, but it has “failed” to do so.
Police had earlier refuted the allegations and said, “It has come to notice that an Artificial Intelligence-generated video created with malicious intent to mislead public, spread misinformation, and disturb law and order is being circulated on social media.”
Cheema, along with Arshdeep Singh Kaur, stated that the AAP had conspired to have the opposition’s nominations disqualified.
For example, in Tarn Taran District, the AAP had over 80% of the candidates from the opposition removed from the ballot elections. In total, the AAP disqualified 31 out of 72 Zila Parishad Election candidates and 31 out of 63 Panchayat Samiti Poll candidates.
Similarly, in Gandiwind, there were 37 rejected; in Khadoor Sahib, 43 rejected; and in Patti, 56 rejected candidates for Panchayat Samiti elections.
Cheema claimed that in the Zira Panchayat Samiti of Ferozepur district, no SAD candidate was able to submit nominations, whereas in the Qadian Panchayat Samiti of Gurdaspur district, 15 SAD candidates had their nominations rejected.
Election candidates from the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) have also had their nominations rejected in other districts, including Jaiton, Ghuman, Raja Sansi, Jandiala, Patran, Ghanour, Ajnala, Baba Bakala and Fatehgarh Churian. “What was the reason for rejecting SAD candidates’ nominations? The State Election Commission has completely failed to supervise the elections in a proper way,” Cheema said. He also added that the SAD has made repeated requests to the state election commissioner for action to be taken regarding their rejection of nominations, but nothing has been done so far.
The elections for Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti in Punjab will be held on December 14, with counting of votes on December 17. The deadline for filing nominations was December 4, nomination scrutiny was on December 5, and nomination withdrawal deadline was December 6.
