Nine candidates belonging to state’s ruling AAP and two owing allegiance to the SAD were declared elected unopposed on Sunday following the completion of the nomination process for the 13-member Mamdot Nagar Panchayat.
Nomination papers filed by BJP candidates were rejected during the scrutiny. The elections are slated for July 5. BJP leader Surinder Singh Sidhu said the party had fielded candidates in 6 wards but papers of all of them were rejected.
He accused both AAP and the SAD of “playing a friendly match” to fool people. “Earlier in Mudki, these parties were hand in glove and shared the seats,” he alleged, adding that similar strategy was adopted in Mamdot.
Congress leader Ashu Bangar alleged that Opposition candidates were prevented from filing their nomination papers. He claimed that some people were trying to encourage gun culture in this area, which would not be tolerated. On June 25, the supporters of gangster-turned-politician Gurpreet Singh Sekhon, allegedly backed by ruling AAP, had clashed with Congress workers, leaving four persons hurt. Later, the police had booked over 50 people.
SAD district president Joginder Singh Jindu rejected the allegations, asserting that the rejection of several SAD candidates’ nominations belies the assertion that there was any understanding between his party and AAP.
