Popularising her pet project, Nanhi Chhan, by putting up flex boards in religious and educational institutions has proved costly not only for Bathinda MP and SAD-BJP combine candidate Harsimrat Kaur Badal, but also for her party — the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).
Acting on a complaint, filed by the Congress, Bathinda District Election Officer(DEO) has imposed Rs3.30 lakh fine Harsimrat and Rs44 lakh on the Akali Dal.
Punjab Congress leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira has filed a complaint against Harsimrat, substantiating his allegation with photographs, for “misusing” Gurudwara and Government premises for her publicity. Khaira, in his complaint, has alleged that the flex boards carrying her pictures have been installed in the premises of Gurudwara at Ghasokhana village and Government Dispensary at Kuttiwal Kalan village, both in Bathinda district, promoting Nanhi-Chaan programme which amounts to influencing voters in her favour.
The decision assumes significance as the State Chief Electoral Office had earlier reportedly given clean chit to the Bathinda MP and the party in the matter.
BATHINDA TOP COPS UNDER EC SCANNER, DECISION EXPECTED SOON
After carrying out series of transfers in Punjab, the Election Commission of India is expected soon to take a decision on the top cops of Bathinda district — the home constituency of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.
The Congress and People’s Party of Punjab combine candidate from Bathinda parliamentary seat, Manpreet Badal, has filed a complaint seeking transfer of Bathinda zonal inspector general of police (Intelligence) Jatinder Jain, zonal IG Bathinda Paramraj Singh Umranangal, and Bathinda senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Gurpreet Singh Bhullar for favouring the SAD-BJP candidate Harsimrat Kaur Badal — Badal’s daughter-in-law.
The scores of complaints received against the babus or Punjab police cops had also named Jain, Umranangal, and Bhullar, but no action was taken against the trio at the time when the EC had ordered eight transfers, including that of five district police chiefs, on April 1.
Sources maintained that the EC would take the decision on the same in a couple of days or so, and is expected to order their transfer.
ECI AllOWS ADDITIONAl AGENT’S APPOINTMENT TO ASSIST CANDIDATES
For closer and better monitoring of election expenses, the Election Commission has allowed appointment of additional agent for assisting candidates in lok Sabha polls 2014.
The decision came after the commission noticed that candidates of large parliament constituencies spread over the entire State or more than one district were finding it difficult to monitor the process of election in the entire constituency with only one election agent permitted under the law. “Now keeping in view this problem, the Commission has decided to permit appointment of ‘authorised nominees’ in addition to the election agent,” read the EC’s letter to the State CEO.
After scrutiny, 280 candidates in fray
Chandigarh: After 350 candidates filed their nominations to contest 2014 lok Sabha polls in Punjab, the number came down to 280 after scrutiny of their papers. A total of 70 nomination papers were rejected on Thursday.
Bathinda tops the chart with 32 candidates trying their luck in the home constituency of Punjab’s first family.
It is followed by Jalandhar with 26 candidates, Amritsar 24, with Sangrur, Faridkot, and ludhiana having 23 each, Khadoor Sahib 22, Patiala 21, Hoshiarpur 19, Anandpur Sahib 18, Ferozepur 17, Fatehgarh Sahib and Gurdaspur 16 each, said Additional Chief Electoral Officer Surpreet Singh Gulati.
He said that nomination papers of prominent candidates including Capt Amarinder Singh of Congress, and Arun Jaitley of BJP, Dr Daljeet Singh of Aam Aadmi party from Amritsar, Pawan Kumar Tinu from SAD, Santokh Singh Chaudhary from Congress, Sukhwinder Singh of BSP and Jyoti Mann of AAP from Jalandhar were found in order.
Among others are candidates from Patiala, Congress Preneet Kaur, SAD’s Deepinder Singh Dhillon, AAP’s Dharam Vira are in fray from Sangrur Congress Vijay Inder Singla, SAD’s Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, AAP’s Bhagwant Mann; from Faridkot, SAD’s Paramjit Kaur Gulshan, Congress’ Joginder Singh Panjgrain, AAP’s Prof Sadhu Singh; from Ferozepur, SAD’s Sher Singh Ghubaya, Congress’ Sunil Jakhar, and AAP’s Satnam Paul, he added.
He said that from ludhiana, SAD’s Manpreet Singh Iyali, Congress’ Ravneet Singh Bittu, AAP’s HS Phoolka, and Simarjeet Singh Bains as Independent are in the battle field.
Besides, BJP’s Vijay Sampla, Congress’ Mohinder Singh Kaypee, AAP’s Yamini Gomar are candidates from Hoshiarpur; from Khadoor Sahib, SAD’s Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, Congress’ Harminder Singh Gill, AAP’s Baldeep Singh, SAD (Amritsar)’s Simarjeet Singh Mann; from Gurdaspur, Congress’ Partap Singh Bajwa, BJP’s Vinod Khanna; from Anandpur Sahib, Congress’ Ambika Soni, SAD’s Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra; from Fatehgarh Sahib, SAD’s Kulwant Singh, Congress’ Sadhu Singh Dharamsot.