Dismiss poll commissioner after SC sets aside elections in Punjab, demands Akali Dal

Chandigarh, Oct 8 (IANS) The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Thursday urged Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria to dismiss State Election Commissioner Raj Kamal Chaudhari following the Supreme Court's observations that the December 2024 nomination process and subsequent municipal elections were severely affected by violence, intimidation and obstruction.

SAD leader Daljit Singh Cheema also demanded that responsibility be fixed on all officials who allegedly assisted the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in manipulating the municipal elections and called for exemplary action against them.

Giving details, Cheema said a court-appointed fact-finding commission headed by former Punjab and Haryana High Court judge Justice Nirmaljit Kaur had confirmed that Opposition candidates were physically assaulted, prevented from filing nominations, or subjected to forced withdrawals and bogus voting.

He alleged that Raj Kamal Chaudhari had ignored complaints regarding the alleged misuse of civil and police machinery during the elections.

"Now it has been proven beyond doubt that the State Election Commissioner murdered grassroots democracy under his watch. He does not have any right to remain in office," Cheema said.

Welcoming the Supreme Court's decision, Cheema said the apex court's appointment of a monitoring committee headed by a retired judge to supervise re-elections in 28 wards in Patiala, all 15 wards in Baghapurana and seven wards in Dharamkot reflected a lack of confidence in the State Election Commissioner's ability to conduct free and fair elections.

The SAD leader also criticised Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann over the registration of cases against farmers accused of burning paddy stubble.

He said the Chief Minister had earlier stated that no action would be taken against such farmers and that they would receive Rs 1,500 per acre to manage stubble.

Cheema alleged that surveillance drones were now being used to identify stubble-burning incidents and cases were being registered against farmers.

Seeking clarification from the Chief Minister, Cheema said farmers wanted to know whether any notification had been issued regarding the promised Rs 1,500 per acre compensation and when the amount would be released.

He alleged that the AAP government had failed to provide farmers with either adequate machinery for stubble management or compensation.

--IANS

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