‘Candidates not given NOC’: SAD, BJP seek action

CHANDIGARH: A joint delegation of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday urged the state election commission to take action against officials “denying” no-dues certificates to the alliance’s candidates for the forthcoming municipal elections (December 17).

The joint delegation, led by senior Akali leader and former minister Tota Singh, told state election commissioner Jagpal Singh Sandhu that false cases had been registered against five Akali workers who complained about the conduct of Mallanwala and Makhu nagar panchayat executive officer. He said the Akali leaders had approached the Ferozepur deputy commissioner because the EO was refusing to give them no-dues certificates.

The delegation members said that, instead of giving them any relief, the local police registered cases against the five workers, Nishan Singh Bhullar, who is currently a vice-president of the nagar panchayat at Mallanwala; Gurlal Singh, V-P, market committee, Mallanwala; Ajay Kumar, president of the Youth Akali Dal SC wing, Mallanwala; Joga Singh and Darshan Singh, V-PS of the market committee, Makhu.

Briefing the poll commissioner, SAD vice-president Daljit Singh Cheema said both SHOS of Mallanwala and Makhu had joined on the date when the municipal elections were announced. He said they should be removed from their posts immediately to ensure free and fair election in both nagar panchayats. Cheema also demanded that elections to both these nagar panchayats be put off and held separately at a later date.

The delegation said no-dues certificates were not being given to Akali workers in Moga, Dharamkot and Baghapurana too.

BJP secretary Vineet Joshi said names of prospective candidates were being struck off lists and that complaints filed against returning officers were going unheard.