The Punjab unit of BJP has opposed the appointment of teachers on counting duty for the upcoming municipal council election results in Ropar district, alleging that the move could compromise the fairness of the process.
In a complaint submitted to Punjab State Election Commission today, BJP Punjab vice-president Subhash Sharma alleged that a majority of the teachers deputed on election duty are from Education Department headed by Cabinet Minister Harjot Singh Bains, raising concerns about impartiality during the vote counting scheduled for May 29.
BJP urged the Election Commission to ensure that no teacher or Education Department official be deputed at counting centres in the Anandpur Sahib Assembly constituency. The party also demanded the installation of CCTV cameras and proper videography arrangements at all counting centres to ensure transparency.
The complaint further alleged large-scale irregularities in the municipal election process, particularly in Nangal. According to BJP, bogus voters were added to the electoral rolls while names of genuine voters were deleted shortly before polling.
The party claimed that several genuine voters carrying valid voter ID cards were denied the right to vote after being informed at polling stations that their names were missing from the voter lists. At the same time, BJP alleged that outsiders and unknown persons fraudulently cast votes.
BJP also alleged that revised voter lists and details of additions and deletions were kept only with the Returning Officers and were not adequately shared with candidates, polling agents, or the public.
Seeking an independent inquiry into the alleged bogus voting and deletion of genuine voters’ names, BJP demanded verification of all electoral records, including revisions made to the voter lists.
Reacting to the allegations, Education and Local Government Minister Harjot Singh Bains said he took BJP’s complaint that government teachers were loyal to him as a “compliment”.
He further remarked that BJP candidates “deploy even the Army” during the counting of votes in municipal council elections, but despite that, AAP would win the elections with the support of the people.
BJP, meanwhile, urged State Election Commission to take immediate steps to uphold the sanctity of the electoral process.
