Congress, AAP demand repoll in Talwandi Sabo
Saturday, 23/08/2014
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BATHINDA: Alleging large-scale rigging on the polling day, candidates of Congress Harminder Singh Jassi and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Baljinder Kaur have demanded re-polling on in the entire Talwandi Sabo constituency.
Both held separate press conferences in Bathinda on Friday and accused the police and the administration officials of taking part in the alleged rigging to ensure the victory of SAD candidate Jeet Mohinder Singh Sidhu.
Jassi said, “Jeet Mohinder was openly ordering his workers to attack Congressmen, including me, at Rama Mandi. But the police were just watching the situation as if it was part of the plan. In view of this, we demand re-polling in Talwandi Sabo.”
He said, “It was worst than what Akalis do in the panchyat elections. The police were working like Akali leaders. Our polling agents were not allowed to sit inside booths at many villages.”
He alleged said, “An unidentified worker of Jeet Mohinder was trying to shoot me and he fired 5 bullets, but, fortunately, nobody got injured.”
Jassi claimed, “Ruling party workers were also casting fake votes and the electronic voting machines (EVMs) were not up to the mark. Election employees were mostly Akali workers who hampered the polling process at many places,” he added.
Jassi also alleged that Akali workers were seen distributing smack, alcohol and drugs among villagers to lure them. I called the observer and other officials several times, but nobody listened to us.
On the other hand, AAP candidate Baljinder Kaur, demanding re-polling in the constituency, said, “Booth-capturing by ruling party workers was there on a large scale. Information regarding this was given to the authorities concerned from time to time, however, no action was taken to stop these acts.”
She said, “Even the paramilitary forces were working under the Punjab Police because of the pressure of ruling party.”
Both the parties termed the election process shameful and urged the Election Commission to take immediate action against them and order re-polling also.
Baljinder Kaur said she had already submitted an application to the commission, demanding re-poll where the police and observers from out of the state should be deployed to ensure a free and fair election.
