Panchayat poll: Cong, Akali leaders lock horns in Faridkot village
Friday, 28/06/2013
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130628/punjab.htm#8
Faridkot : Two senior political leaders are in fray for the chair of sarpanch in a village here. The duo had sought a ticket for the Faridkot seat during the last Assembly elections.
Last week, when a former SGPC member and chairman of the District Planning Board, Lakhbir Singh, jumped into the poll fray for the post of sarpanch in his native village Arianwala, it caught many by surprise.
The Akali leader was one of the strong claimants for the SAD(B) ticket for Faridkot Assembly constituency in the 2012 elections. Though he failed in getting the ticket, the SAD-BJP government appointed him as the chairman of the District Planning Board.
Now, after the expiry of his one-year term of chairmanship, the Akali leader is contesting the election for the post of sarpanch.
Significantly, a senior Congress leader, Harcharan Singh Sandhu, is pitted against Lakhbir Singh. Two years ago, Harcharan Singh was also a strong contender for the Congress ticket for the Faridkot seat in the Assembly elections.
As both these heavyweight leaders have locked horns in Arianwala village for the post of sarpanch, people are looking forward to an interesting contest.
With stakes high, these leaders are making every effort to win the election.
Lakhbir Singh has asked the district police to register a criminal case against Sandhu as he allegedly had voter identity cards at two places -Faridkot town and Arianwala. Akalis are demanding the cancellation of Sandhu's candidature as his name figures on the voters' list of two different places.
On the other hand, Sandhu claimed he had already got his vote in Faridkot deleted. "The Akalis are raising a hue and cry for no reason. Lakhbir Singh wants to be elected an unopposed. That is why efforts are being made to get my nomination papers rejected," alleged Sandhu.
Sources said to build pressure on the district administration and the police for cancellation of Harcharan Sandhu's nomination papers and registration of a criminal case against him, Akali leaders had even approached the office of the Chief Minister. But as a BJP Cabinet Minister from the Majha area is also facing the allegations of dual vote - in Amritsar and Tarn Taran -the CM's office reportedly did not go ahead with recommending action against the Congress leader.
