As canvassing for Panchayat and Zila Parishad polls came to an end in Punjab on Friday, the State Election Commission claimed that all arrangements have been made and it was prepared for the election scheduled to be held on May 19.
SS Brar, State Election Commissioner, said that polling for 146 Panchayat Samitis and 22 Zila Parishads would be held and Commission has issued instructions to Civil, Police administration to make foolproof security arguments so that election process could be completed peacefully.
The SEC has declared May 19 as dry day in the revenue jurisdiction of all villages where polls are to be held. SEC has also issued instructions to State Government and District administrations to ensure the compliance.
Brar said 1321 candidates had filed nomination papers for the election of 331 zones of 22 Zila Parishad. 127 papers were rejected in scrutiny, whereas 404 candidates withdrew their papers on the last day fixed for the withdrawal of nomination papers. For the Zila Parishad elections 760 candidates remained in the fray as 30 candidates were elected unopposed.
0For the Pachayat Smiti election, papers of 351 candidates were found incomplete out of 10085 candidates. 3719 candidates had withdrawn their nomination papers. With 229 candidates elected unopposed, 5786 candidates remained in the fray for the election of 146 Panchayat Smitis.
Maheshinder Grewal slams Congress
Taking a strong exception over the demand of the Congress leaders for imposing President rule in the state, Advisor to Punjab Chief Minister and General Secretary of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) Maheshinder Singh Grewal on Friday said that these baseless statements were a reflection of the mounting frustration of Congress leaders in the wake of impending defeat in the Zila Parishad and Block samiti elections.
In a statement issued here, Grewal said that it was a writing on the wall that owing to the pro-people and development oriented policies of the SAD-BJP Government the alliance would register a massive victory in these polls and the Congress party would be once again decimated. He said that realizing this fact the Congress leaders were now resorting to political gimmicks by once again raising the false bogey of deteriorating law and order situation in the state whereas as it was on record that the Union government has termed Punjab as one of the most peaceful States in the country.
Majithia demands caretaker Govt at Centre
Bathinda/Mansa: Punjab Revenue and Public Relations Minister Bikram Singh Majithia on Friday urged the President of India to form a caretaker government at centre as the present congress led UPA-2 is hell bent upon to loot the national resources presuming its impending humiliating defeat in coming general elections.
Addressing a series of election rallies in favour of SAD-BJP candidates for Zila Parishad and Block Samiti elections in Mansa and Bathinda districts, Majithia said that the present Congress led UPA government has become identical to major scams, shameless loot of national resources, roof piercing inflation and complete politicisation of premier national agencies.
lashing out at PPCC President Partap Singh Bajwa and his predecessor Amarinder Singh for their daily chanting for imposition of President’s rule in the state, Majithia reminded them that the people of Punjab were repeatedly rejecting the propaganda of Congress at every front, be it Vidhan Sabha elections or Municipal Corporations elections.
He expressed confidence that Congress would also never forget its drubbing in ongoing PRIs elections.
He said that the congress leader duo was fully frustrated, one due to his “Political unemployment” and the other finding his state president seat too hot to handle with over ambitious fellow congressmen keeping him always on toes. He said that the dream of congress for proxy rule through President’s Rule would never be realized and it should also forget to make any come back in next 25 years.