Unhappy with the Punjab Vidhan Sabha’s “verbal” reply to the Election Commission’s query on the notification regarding Talwandi Sabo Assembly seat falling vacant, State Chief Electoral Officer VK Singh on Wednesday asked the authorities concerned to reply in writing.
At the same time, Singh, in a statement issued later, stated that Congress’ complaint regarding notification declaring Talwandi Sabo Vidhan Sabha seat vacant after resignation of MlA Jeet Mohinder Singh Sidhu has been forwarded to the Election Commission of India for further decision.
The Commission has sought comments from the Vidhan Sabha secretary after the Punjab Congress filed two separate complaints — by party chief Partap Singh Bajwa and party spokesperson Sukhpal Singh Khaira urging the Commission to “immediately” issue the notification to hold by-election in Talwandi Sabo assembly segment, that fell vacant on March 7.
Sitting Congress MlA from Talwandi Sabo, Jeet Mohinder Singh Sidhu, left the party to join Akali Dal on March 6, and submitted his resignation from the Assembly which was accepted by the Assembly Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal on March 7, when the House was holding its budget session.
“Punjab Vidhan Sabha secretary has telephonically informed that notification was not issued and the matter was referred to the State Advocate-General office for legal opinion on some technical points,” said VK Singh.
Singh said that we have asked the secretary to sent the report in written, and no verbal comments would be entertained, as the report has to be sent to the Central Commission for further course of action.
Congress, demanding to hold by-election along with the lok Sabha polls, has accused the Vidhan Sabha authorities for deliberately delaying the by-poll “at the behest of the ruling alliance”.
COMPlAINT AGAINST lUDHIANA BDPO, eNQUIRes ORDERED
CEO informed that two parallel enquiries have been marked to the Principal Secretary (Rural Development and Panchayats) and ludhiana Deputy Commissioner after receiving a complaint against BDPO ludhiana, which alleged that despite being a proclaimed offender he was appointed as ARO.
COUNTING ONlY AT DISTRICT HQ
Singh said that directions has been issued to Deputy Commissioners for making arrangement for counting at district headquarters only to reduce the need of deployment of more security personnel from polling to day of counting , which would be more than two weeks.
Poll OBSERVERS TO REPORT ON APRIl 9
CEO said that ECI has appointed 18 general, 18 expenditure and three police observers for Punjab and they would report on April 9, the last day of nominations.
Rs 80 lAKH SEIZED
VK Singh revealed that till date, a sum of Rs 80 lakh approximately — Rs 40 lakh each by flying squads and static surveillance teams — has been intercepted and all the cases have been referred to the Income Tax department for further enquiries.