Dakha by-election: candidates of SAD & AAP file nomination papers

Ludhiana, September 27, 2019: On the fifth day of filing of nomination papers for the by-election for Dakha Vidhan Sabha constituency, candidates of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) filed their nomination papers today. From the SAD, nomination papers were filed by Manpreet Singh Ayali and Harkinder Singh (as covering candidate), while from AAP, nomination papers were filed by Amandeep Singh Mohi and by Gurdeep Kaur (as covering candidate). Prior to this, independent candidate Jai Parkash Jain has already filed his nomination papers. Till date, a total of five candidates have filed their nomination papers. District Election Officer Pradeep Kumar Agrawal informed that for the by-election, nomination papers can be filed till September 30, 2019 from 11 am to 3 pm. The scrutiny of nomination papers would be done on October 1, 2019, while the withdrawal of nominations can be done till October 3, 2019. The polling of votes would be done on October 21, 2019, while the counting would be on October 24, 2019. He informed that there are 220 polling stations in Dakha assembly constituency-68, and there are 1,84,306 general voters along with 780 service voters. Agrawal clarified that candidates can spend a maximum of Rs 28 lakh for this by-election. He also informed that different cells such as flying squad, static surveillance team, expenditure monitoring cell, MCC and complaint cell, have been set up ay district level as well as constituency level. To check paid news in newspapers, a district level MCMC committee has also been set up. He directed the owners of printing presses to ensure that at the time of printing any election material, name of publisher, name of person who gets it printed, quantity etc should be mentioned on the material without fail. He said that if they fail to comply with these directions, then action under section 127 A(2) of RP Act 1951, would be taken against them. He also appealed to the public to exercise their right to vote in a free and fair manner without any fear. He also appealed to the political parties and prospective candidates to not use election material made of plastic. BY-POLL 2019: FIVE CANDIDATES FILE NOMINATION PAPERS ON FIFTH DAY Chandigarh September 27, 2019: According to an official spokesman of the Chief Electoral Officer Punjab, five candidates have filed nomination papers for the By-poll of Dakha and Jalalabad assembly constituencies on the fifth day of the filing of the nominations. September 30, 2019 is last day to file nomination papers for by-poll 2019. Divulging further, the spokesperson said that today Manpreet Singh Ayali, Harkiner Singh of SAD and Amandeep Singh, Gurpreet Kaur Thind of AAP filed their nomination papers while Jai Parkash Jain, Independent candidate had also filed his nomination papers on third day of nomination for Assembly constituency no 68 Dakha. Jagdeep Kamboj has filed his nomination papers for Assembly constituency no 79 Jalalabad. Till now, no nomination paper has been filed for Assembly constituency no 29 Phagwara and Assembly constituency no 39 Mukerian. He further infrormed that 28th September, 2019 being 4th Saturday is a holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881; therefore, nomination papers cannot be presented to the Returning Officer on that day. Likewise, 29th September 2019 being Sunday is a holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 hence nomination papers cannot be presented to the Returning Officer on that day, the spokesperson added.