8 october 2024 : The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has accused the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of manipulating the panchayat election process, claiming it has been completely controlled by the party. A delegation from SAD, led by Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema, presented a memorandum to the state Election Commission, outlining how Opposition candidates were obstructed from contesting the elections.
The party argued that many Opposition candidates were either prevented from filing their nomination papers or had their papers unjustly rejected. They called for senior officers to be appointed as observers in all districts and for all election booths to be video-recorded to ensure transparency. SAD also demanded strict action against AAP leaders and government officials accused of undermining the democratic process.
Cheema highlighted several examples, including the rejection of 91 sarpanch and 204 panch candidates in Dera Bassi, as well as the withdrawal of all Opposition candidates in Kurli village after their nominations were rejected. He cited other instances where nominations were disqualified on dubious grounds, such as the rejection of Rajbir Kaur’s candidacy in Chhapar Chhiri village for lacking a water connection, and the disqualification of Jaswinder Kaur’s papers in Dera Bassi for an alleged non-existent ramp to her house.
