Oppn alleges misuse of admn, police machinery during Mohali civic polls

Mohali: The Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and BJP on Wednesday accused the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of misusing the administrative and police machinery during the municipal corporation elections in Mohali. The parties have alleged irregularities, intimidation of voters and attempts at bogus voting, and said formal complaints had been submitted to the district election officer.Former deputy mayor of Mohali municipal corporation Kuljit Singh Bedi has alleged serious violations of ballot paper secrecy during the local bodies elections held across Punjab on May 26. Bedi has submitted a detailed representation to the chief electoral officer, Punjab; chief secretary, Punjab; and other senior authorities, demanding a high-level inquiry, criminal proceedings against responsible officials and re-polling across the state.Bedi said this process amounted to a direct violation of a voter’s right to secrecy, as after the completion of polling, anyone could identify which candidate a voter voted for by matching the serial numbers on the counterfoil and ballot paper. According to him, when he immediately raised objections over the serious irregularity, the polling staff expressed helplessness and stated that the ballot papers had been supplied by the election commission in the same format and they could do nothing about it.Bedi alleged that the matter was not merely a technical mistake, but raised serious questions over the transparency and credibility of the election process. He stated that secrecy of voting was the foundation of democracy and if voters fear that their votes can be traced, the concept of free and fair elections itself stands compromised.Meanwhile, the Shiromani Akali Dal has also levelled serious allegations against the police administration, accusing it of acting in favour of the ruling AAP and compromising the impartiality of the electoral process.Akali Dal district president Parvinder Singh Sohana said instead of performing their duties impartially, the police officials intimidated voters and mistreated Akali Dal supporters during polling.He further alleged that Simarpreet Singh, SHO of Sohana police station, who was deployed at the Sohana polling booth, openly supported the AAP candidate. He further claimed that his family members, including his wife, a former councillor, were also subjected to mistreatment.He alleged that despite repeated complaints, the police failed to take action against instances of alleged bogus voting and disturbances at polling booths. Instead, Akali Dal workers were allegedly intimidated.The Akali Dal leader demanded that all CCTV footage related to the elections be preserved in accordance with high court directions. He also expressed apprehension that certain police officials may have tampered with cameras, alleging that the matter required a thorough investigation.Sohana claimed that had senior police officials did not arrive at the scene in time as attempts to capture certain polling booths could have taken place.He said a formal complaint regarding the entire episode was being sent to the Punjab state election commission, the Punjab DGP and other senior officials, demanding an impartial inquiry and strict disciplinary action against the officials found guilty.BJP leader Sanjeev Vashisht also alleged booth rigging by AAP workers and accused them of attempting to cast bogus votes during polling.