1,304 CANDIDATES IN A FRAY FOR 117 ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCY IN PUNJAB
A total of 1,304 candidates are in a fray for 117 assembly constituencies of Punjab as 341 candidates withdrew their nomination papers on the last day (February 4, 2022) of withdrawal. The Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab, Dr. S. Karuna Raju said that 2266 candidates had filed their nomination papers for 117 Assembly Constituencies of the State. He further said that during the scrutiny 1645 nomination papers were found valid. The CEO informed that the highest number of candidates 19 each are in fray from assembly constituency number 59 Sahnewal and Patiala assembly constituency number 110 similarly least number of 5 candidates are in fray from assembly constituency number 5 Dinanagar. He said that now 1304 candidates are left in fray. The voting would be held on February 20 from 08.00 am to 06.00 pm.
VALUABLES WORTH ` 322.52 CRORE SEIZED IN PUNJAB AFTER ENFORCEMENT OF CODE: CEO PUNJAB
After the Model Code of Conduct came into force in the state for Punjab Vidhan Sabha elections, various enforcement teams have seized valuables worth Rs 322.52 crores in violation of code till February 4. CEO Punjab, S Karuna Raju on Saturday said that the surveillance teams have seized 30.57 lakh litres of liquor worth Rs 16.93 crore. Similarly, the enforcement wings have also recovered psychotropic substances amounting to Rs 279.62 crores besides confiscating unaccounted cash of Rs 21.97 crore, he added. He said that as many as 1227 vulnerable hamlets have been identified. Besides this, 2980 persons have been identified as probable sources of trouble, he said adding that out of these persons preventive action had already been initiated against 2284 persons while the remaining would also be brought to book. He also informed that from a security point of view 1409 persons have been bound down under preventive sections of CrPC act. He informed that as many as 2861 cases of non-bailable warrants have been executed, while execution in 24 cases is under process. As many as 18807 nakas are operational across the State. As per the directions of the election commission, Raju said that of total 3,90,275 licensed weapons in the state 3,77,729 weapons have been deposited till date. Whereas, 91 without licenses weapons were seized in the state.
Three special observers of EC review poll preparedness in Punjab
Three special observers of the Election Commission (EC) reviewed Punjab's preparedness on Friday for the February 20 state Assembly polls. They expressed satisfaction and confidence that the polls would be held in a free, fair and transparent manner, according to an official statement issued here. Special general observer Vinod Zutshi, special police observer Rajnikant Mishra and special expenditure observer Himlani Kashyap held a review meeting with Punjab's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) S Karuna Raju at his office here. Additional CEO Amit Kumar, ADGP-cum-State Police Nodal Officer (SPNO) Ishwar Singh also attended the meeting. The special observers took stock of the overall poll preparedness, including COVID-19 preparedness, staff preparedness, the SVEEP (Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Participation) activities, the critical and vulnerable polling booths and adequate availability of electronic voting machines. Emphasising the need to ensure fool-proof security measures at all polling booths across the state, the observers also reviewed the total seizure of cash, liquor, opioids, arms and ammunition. Raju apprised the EC observers of the arrangements being made at the polling booths, the training of polling personnel, webcasting of booths, the C-vigil app, the Suvidha app, and monitoring of print, electronic and social media. The CEO also assured them that all the COVID-19 guidelines will be followed. He said all the staff to be deputed on poll duty would be fully vaccinated. Raju informed the meeting that 97.81 per cent of licensed arms in the state have been deposited.
Five-time CM Parkash Singh Badal taken to Mohali hospital for post-Covid check up
Shiromani Akali Dal patriarch Parkash Singh Badal, who recently recovered from COVID-19, was taken to a private hospital in Mohali for a post-Covid check-up. Badal was on January 24 discharged from a hospital in Ludhiana where he was admitted after he tested positive for COVID-19 a few days earlier. Badal came from Muktsar to the private hospital in Mohali for a health check-up, said Harcharan Bains, principal advisor to SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal. The SAD patriarch was advised bi-weekly or tri-weekly precautionary check-ups and he has been maintaining this periodic regimen, especially after being tested for COVID-19, Bains said. He added that Parkash Singh Badal has been routinely interacting with people in the election campaign in the state. The party had earlier said that he would be taken to the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research in Chandigarh. Badal, a five-time Chief Minister, is seeking re-election from Lambi constituency in the February 20 Punjab Assembly elections.
Cong, AAP making ‘false promises to grab power': BJP leader Rajyavardhan Rathore
Senior BJP leader Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore on Saturday alleged the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party were only making ''false promises'' to the people of Punjab to ''grab power'' but the BJP had a track record of performance and delivering what it promised. He said if voted to power, the BJP-led alliance will take the state on a path of development. He took on the AAP for promising ''freebies'' for different sections of society and said, ''There is difference between empowerment and freebies.'' ''Punjab has Rs 3 lakh crore debt. They are not going to give anything to Punjab but will surely take away even what is left,'' he told reporters in Chandigarh.