Dakha by-election: Nominations start, no nomination filed on day one

Ludhiana, September 23, 2019: The nominations for the Dakha by-election started today and on day one, no candidate filed their nomination papers. District Election Officer-cum-Deputy Commissioner Pradeep Kumar Agrawal informed that the candidates can file their nomination papers from 11 am to 3 pm till September 30, 2019. 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. He has also directed all department heads to ensure that political slogans, banners or advertisements etc on public properties should be removed immediately (within 24 hours in case of government buildings, within 48 hours on public places and within 72 hours on private properties). He also directed that it should be ensured that no permission should be granted to any candidate/political party for holding election canvassing, propaganda/public meeting from government rest house/dak bangla or any religious place. 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. Related story: Meanwhile, another report says that the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Monday announced Manpreet Singh Ayali as the party's candidate for the Dakha assembly constituency. Ayali is an ex-MLA from Dakha. Ayali was elected from this seat way back in 2012, but he lost to HS Phoolka in the year 2017. He had been Zila Parishad Ludhiana Chairman too. It may be recalled here that the post got vacant here after AAP MLA HS Phoolka resigned. Congress has announced to field Capt Sandeep Singh Sandhu as the party's candidate from Dakha assembly seat.Capt Sandhu is stated to be a close confidant of Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh.He is a former sailor from merchant navy. NO NOMINATION PAPER FILED ON THE FIRST DAY OF FILING OF NOMINATIONS Chandigarh September 23, 2019: According to an official spokesman of the Chief Electoral Officer Punjab, no candidate has filed nomination papers for the byepoll of Phagwara, Mukerian, Dakha and Jalalabad assembly constituencies on the first day of the filing of the nominations. Polling to this constituencies would be held on October 21, 2019.