Accusing the ruling Congress party of “misusing the government machinery”, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday alleged that there are more than 24,000 fake votes in Ludhiana, and single voter has vote at multiple places.

AAP’s Punjab unit in-charge Jarnail Singh, accusing the Congress of fraud in preparation of voters list in Ludhiana, alleged that Cabinet Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu added more than 24000 fake voters in Ludhiana West assembly constituency.

“The Congress party is unable to digest the change of mood of the people of Punjab. Due to the fear of defeat, Congress leaders are trying to win elections with the help of fake votes and now they are misusing the government machinery for the listing of bogus voters,” said Singh, accompanied by party spokesperson Malvinder Singh Kang and Ludhiana West nominee Gurpreet Singh Gogi.

He demanded from the Election Commission to take an action on the issue of irregularities and fake voters in Ludhiana West and other assembly constituencies at the earliest.  He said that party candidate from Ludhiana West, Gurupreet Gogi, had filed a complaint to the Election Commission about the list of fake voters. Taking cognizance of the matter, the Election Commission had removed some of the fake names from its records, but still, there are more than 24,000 bogus voters in the Ludhiana West assembly alone.

Jarnail Singh blamed the Congress minister and MLA from Ludhiana West Bharat Bhushan Ashu for the irregularities in the voters’ list. He said that Ashu has misused his position and put pressure on the government machinery to enlist these fake votes. The AAP leader said that Minister Ashu is aware of his defeat in upcoming elections, so he is pulling such tactics to win the elections.