The who’s who of the Punjab politics has run into troubles with the Election Commission. Two senior Congress leaders, Union Minister Preneet Kaur and former Union Minister Ambika Soni, have been put on notice.
The Commission has also taken cognisance of the statement of Deputy Chief Minister and SAD chief Sukhbir Badal wherein he dubbed Congress State president and party’s Gurdaspur candidate Partap Singh Bajwa a “human bomb”.
Acting upon the complaint of SAD-BJP combine candidate from Patiala Deepinder Dhillon against his Congress rival and sitting MP Preneet Kaur on foreign bank accounts, the Patiala Deputy Commissioner-cum-Returning Officer Priyank Bharti has served her a notice for concealing bank accounts.
The Union Minister of State for External Affairs has been asked to submit reply within 24 hours. Dhillon has alleged that Preneet has concealed foreign bank accounts of family members while submitting nomination papers.
In another case, Roopnagar DC has submit a report in a complaint filed by the Akali Dal pointing out that Congress leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal had used “derogatory” words against SAD-BJP combine candidate from Anandpur Sahib Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra.
DC, in his report, has upheld the allegations made by Akali Dal secretary Daljit Singh Cheema in the complaint, and has decided to issue a notice to the Congress candidate from the seat Ambika Soni, in favour of whom Bhattal was campaigning.
The Commission has also taken suo motu cognisance of Sukhbir Badal’s statement, and would seek a reply from the party.
ENSURE IMPARTIAl ElECTION COVERAGE: CEO TO NEWS CHANNElS
Punjab Chief Electoral Officer VK Singh on Friday asked the heads or representatives of regional news channels to play an impartial role in ensuring equal coverage without any bias towards any political party or candidate in ongoing general elections to lok Sabha-2014. Singh, presiding over a meeting with leading regional news channels’ representatives, said that recent phenomenon of “paid news” was assuming alarming proportion as a serious electoral malpractice and it has been cause of concern for the ECI in context of conduct of free and fair elections. He said that ECI has categorically directed to halt such malpractice which puts undue influence on free will of voters, encourages role of money power in covert manner and disturbs level playing field in elections.
“In case of suspected paid news, the MCMC on receiving a complaint or suo motu may issue notice to the concerned party or candidate asking the concerned channel to explain its position. After verifying the facts or evidence, it could declare such news paid thereby adding advertisement expenditure in account of candidate or concerned political party as the case may be. The person aggrieved by the decision of state MCMC can file appeal before ECI within in 48 hours,” he added
CONG SEEKS TRANSFER OF AMRITSAR RURAl SSP
Congress has sought “immediate” transfer of Amritsar Rural Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Gurpreet Gill not only for his partisan way of functioning but also openly threatening and intimidating the Congress supporters. The party, in its complaint to the Election Commission, stated that recently, on the directions of the SSP Gill, Bhindi Saidan SHO Jarnail Singh had threatened and intimidated a Congress Sarpanch Sadda Singh as he refused to support the ruling alliance. SHO had even provoked an attack on the sarpanch which led to damage to his car. Had he not fled from the scene he might have been killed, the complaint said.
SARDUlGARH ARO TRANSFERRED
Additional CEO Raminder Singh informed that Sardulgarh Assistant Returning Officer Rajdeep Singh Brar, sub-divisional magistrate (SDM), has been transferred on account of “incompetence and disobedience” of orders of the returning officer. He said that the Chief Secretary has been asked to send a panel of officers for appointment as ARO there.
30 COUNTING CENTreS IN 23 TOWNS, CITIES
Election Commission of India (ECI) has approved the proposal for setting up 30 premises (Counting Centre Complex) in 23 cities or towns in respect of 13 parliamentary constituencies in Punjab for general elections to lok Sabha-2014. Earlier, it was decided that counting would be held at all district headquarters.
2.43 lAKH lICENcED WEAPONS DEPOSITED
Till date, 2,43,763 licensed weapons have been got deposited and 368 absconders have been arrested after imposition of Model Code of Conduct in the state.
WEBCASTING ON 750 POllING BOOTHS
Arrangements were being made for web-casting on 750 polling booths by roping the students and faculty of technical especially IT institutes.
277 lEFT IN FRAY AFTER WITHDRAWAl
Additional CEO informed that on Friday, Mamta, the Sarvjan Samaj Party candidate from Gurdaspur, Surinder Kumar, independent candidate from Bathinda and Iqbal Singh (Republican Party of India/A) from Fatehgarh Sahib have withdrawn their nominations on the first day of withdrawal process.
57 FIRs FOR poll CODE VIOlATION
Additional CEO Supreet Singh Gulati informed that till date, 57 FIRs have been registered regarding violations of MCC throughout the State. He said that 38,000 poster defacements were also removed and out of which 30,000 were in ludhiana alone.