Political tempers are running high in Punjab over the Morinda Municipal Corporation election, after Bharatiya Janata Party's Punjab unit president Kewal Singh Dhillon accused the Aam Aadmi Party government of large scale rigging. On Saturday, he met Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria at Raj Bhavan and submitted a memorandum demanding intervention in the matter.
Worst Irregularities In 70 Years, Says Dhillon
Speaking after the meeting, Dhillon said the irregularities witnessed in this civic body election had no parallel in Punjab's 70 year history. He argued that this was not merely a local body contest but a direct assault on the democratic process, which is why he felt it necessary to bring the issue to the Governor's attention.
Election 'Hijacked In Broad Daylight'
According to Dhillon, in wards where BJP candidates enjoyed a clear majority, people backed by the ruling party were forcibly pushed inside the premises and the doors were then shut. He alleged that candidates backed by the government, rather than the BJP, were subsequently declared winners. Dhillon described the entire episode as the election being hijacked in broad daylight. He further claimed that BJP candidates were harassed even during the nomination filing process, and that several fully valid nomination papers of party candidates were forcibly rejected to make the contest one sided.
Raj Bhavan's Response Called Positive
Dhillon said the memorandum handed to the Governor laid out the entire sequence of events in detail, and that Raj Bhavan's response to it had been positive. He added that the BJP has always stood with the people and would continue to raise its voice for their interests going forward.
Sharp Attack On Congress, Dig At Bhupesh Baghel
Turning his guns on the Congress, Dhillon made a pointed remark.
Congress's politics revolves only around the chair of power. The dispute within the party is only about the post of Chief Minister. Congress is living under the illusion that it will come to power, whereas it is the BJP that will form the government in Punjab. Whether Bhupesh Baghel comes five times or ten times, Congress's factionalism will not end and no decision will emerge.
Channi Had Already Raised Rigging Allegations
This is not the first time allegations of irregularities have surrounded the Morinda Municipal Corporation election. Former Punjab Chief Minister and Congress MP Charanjit Singh Channi had already raised questions over the same poll. Channi claimed that Congress candidates had won 12 of the corporation's 15 seats, but police still stopped Congress councillors from voting and used force against them. He alleged that an independent candidate was then declared the winner. Channi said the entire election process had been compromised, and that Congress would challenge it in the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
With both the BJP and Congress now making serious allegations over the Morinda civic poll, the political temperature in Punjab has risen further, and attention has shifted to what stance the Governor's office takes going forward and how Congress's expected court challenge eventually plays out.
