October 7, 2024: Violent incidents occurred at various locations in Punjab during the nomination process for the Panchayat elections scheduled for October 15. Leaders of opposition parties accused the ruling party of preventing their candidates from submitting nomination papers. In response, the Shiromani Akali Dal has announced its intention to engage in a legal battle against the obstruction or cancellation of nomination papers.
The Akali Dal is appealing to candidates who were unable to submit their nomination papers due to coercion to bring their documents and evidence of the intimidation to the party office located in Sector 28, Chandigarh. Senior Akali leader Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema stated that the party has formed a high-level legal team to challenge this intimidation in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. This team has been established under the leadership of Arshdeep Singh Kaler, the head of the party’s legal cell.
Dr. Cheema mentioned that complaints have been received regarding the widespread cancellation of nomination papers for sarpanch and panch positions in various regions of the state. The Akali Dal’s legal team will meet with the affected candidates at the party’s headquarters on October 7. They plan to prepare these cases and present them to the State Election Commission, demanding a high-level investigation into the matter. If necessary, a petition will also be filed in the High Court.
Additionally, Dr. Cheema condemned the filing of cases against senior Akali leaders Vardev Singh Mann and Bobby Mann, stating that their sons’ nomination papers had been rejected. Instead of receiving justice, false cases have been filed against senior leaders.
