Tension has escalated in the ongoing civic body elections after Congress candidates of the Municipal Council Sirhind-Fatehgarh Sahib alleged that attempts were being made to reject their nomination papers under political pressure.
Former MLA Kuljit Singh Nagra warned officials that if the nomination papers of Congress candidates were rejected on flimsy or baseless grounds, party workers would be compelled to take to the streets in protest.
Outgoing president of the Municipal Council Sirhind-Fatehgarh Sahib, Ashok Sood, who is contesting from Ward No. 14, alleged that an Aam Aadmi Party candidate had lodged a complaint accusing him of encroaching upon council land through the construction of his shops. He claimed the allegations were false and politically motivated. Sood stated that he had already submitted a detailed reply with documentary evidence showing that the shops were constructed strictly according to the building plan approved by the municipal council, with no encroachment whatsoever. He further noted that the council had issued him a No Objection Certificate (NOC).
However, Sood alleged that municipal officials were reluctant even to accept his reply. He claimed that reliable sources had informed him that certain officials were under political pressure to reject his nomination papers.
Former MLA Nagra further alleged that similar complaints had been filed against three other Congress candidates. He argued that the land in question was not under council ownership, and therefore the council had no authority to act. He accused the ruling AAP of resorting to cheap tactics out of fear of defeat in the municipal elections. Nagra added that Congress candidates had also submitted replies to the complaints lodged against them.
When contacted, Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Election Officer Dr Sona Thind said she had directed all SDMs to act strictly in accordance with the law, without prejudice or political influence. She emphasised that nomination papers should not be rejected on flimsy grounds and assured that due legal procedure would be followed in every case.
