A day before polls, reports of clashes were received on Friday from different parts of the state for luring voters allegedly by distributing money and liquor.
High drama prevailed in one of the most high-profile constituency, lambi — the home segment of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.
Both Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) accused the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) of “distributing money” to woo voters.
AAP national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who was stationed at Chandigarh, too raised suspicion with his back-to-back tweets asking whether the Election Commission has reduced checking and frisking ahead high-stakes polls.
“Has EC reduced frisking both in Goa n Punjab on purposeIJ” tweeted Kejriwal, following another tweet, “Thats exactly what i said in the morning. No frisking taking place anywhere in Punjab for last 2 days. WhyIJ”
Punjab Congress president and party candidate in lambi Capt Amarinder Singh and AAP’s lambi candidate Jarnail Singh alleged that the SAD leader Gurbakhshish Singh ‘Vicky Middukhera’ for distributing money at Hakkuwala village in the constituency.
He reportedly fled the village leaving back his Toyota Fortuner — which has been damaged — after the mob chased him down.
Middukhera denied the allegations terming them baseless. “I had gone to the village to condole the demise of a villager. The police has recorded my statement. The opposition is trying tarnish my image,” he said who raising objection over presence of Raninder Singh in constituency while terming him as “outsider”.
Justifying mob’s action of attacking Miffukhera’ vehicle, Capt Amarinder said: “If they have brought money to distribute and villagers have stopped them, damaged the car, then it is fine.”
Malout DSP SS Mann said: “Vicky Middukhera has told that he along with his son had come to the house of a local resident to condole his demise. We are investigating it.”
AAP’s Jarnail Singh too lodged protest against the incident by sitting on road at Hakkuwala village.
Capt Amarinder’s spokesperson said that local Congress leaders have complained to Punjab Congress chief regarding distribution of money by Vicky Middhukhera, cousin of Sukhbir Badal's close aide Tejinder Singh Middhukhera, on Thursday night.
“Vicky, who was caught in the act by the villagers, also threatened them with dire consequences if they did not vote for (Parkash Singh) Badal. The villagers then called the local Congress leaders. Though Vicky and his goondas fled, the locals seized his car,” the spokesperson added.
Amarinder, who is challenging Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in the latter's traditional lambi assembly constituency, told media on Friday that Akali Dal leaders were trying to lure voters with money.
OTHER CASES
Reports of violence were also reported in Patti — the constituency of Food and Civil Supplies Minister Adesh Partap Singh Kairon, who is Badal’s son-in-law.
It has been learnt that a case has been registered against two SAD members for an alleged attack over former Sarpanch and Congress leader Harjinder Singh when he tried to stop Akali Dal leader Sukhdev Singh and his workers from distributing money to voters.
Sukhdev and his workers reportedly attacked Harjinder and his aide with sharp weapons, badly injuring their hands. The two have been hospitalised.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Ashwani Kumar said that the accused have fled and the police is trying to track them. He further added a woman was also involved in the attack.
In another incident in Rampura Phul, AAP’s youth coordinator Robby Brar was shot in the thigh allegedly by SAD’s former market committee chairman Rocky Kansal.
Kansal and his aides were allegedly distributing liquor and cash to lure voters.
In another case, AAP alleged that Congress workers were distributing liquor in Nangal Kalan village of Mansa district. AAP worker Ajaib Singh said that Congress workers, including former sarpanch Jagmel Singh, were distributing liquor “and when I objected, they attacked me” — allegations categorically denied by Jagmel Singh.