MLA dual vote row: DC seeks all records related to matter

: Having received the electoral registration officercum-sub divisional magistrate (SDM)’s report that indicted the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)’s Talwandi Sabo MLA over having dual vote, the district electoral officer (DEO) has sought all the records related to the matter. Bathinda DEO-cum-deputy commissioner Diprava Lakra said he received the report on Thursday.

“The MLA has said she will be submitting a representation in this regard so I will wait for that before forwarding the report to the Punjab chief electoral officer (CEO),” Lakra said. Besides forwarding the SDM’s report he will also make the MLA’s representation and his own observation on the matter part of the comprehensive report to the CEO, he said.

Baljinder couldn’t be contacted on Thursday. She earlier has denied dual vote allegations.

Talwandi Sabo electoral registration officer Barinder Singh in his report to the DC on February 8 has indicted Baljinder for having dual vote besides deliberately making false statement before the authorities.

THE CONTROVERSY

Baljinder was enrolled as a voter in the Talwandi Sabo assembly segment in November 2005 at address having house number 273 and her father’s name as Amarjit Singh as she was his adopted daughter as per the adoption deed. But neither photo was affixed on the form nor any identity proof was required to enrol her as a voter, it is mentioned in the letter.

AMARJIT DIED IN 2002

She then got registered as a voter in June 2011 by filling form number 6 at address with house number 272-A while mentioning her biological father Darshan Singh. Both votes are registered at her native village Jaga Ram Tirath. In August 2014 when Baljinder contested the assembly bypoll, the then Talwandi Sabo returning officer (RO) had recommended a probe into the matter.

Her vote with Amarjit as her father was put in the absent voter’s list the same month, says the letter. Though the letter does not mention if she had dual vote at time of 2017 assembly polls or not, sources said she had only one vote then.

Another complaint was made to the CEO in August 2017 by former AAP leader and Right to Information (RTI) activist Harmilap Grewal who alleged that a thorough probe was not conducted in the matter as recommended by the then RO. Inquiry was carried out into the matter again. He said Baljinder impersonated as Darshan Singh’s daughter because an adopted person can go back to their biological parents after a legal process which she did not follow.