Congress meets Brar,cites peak harvesting season to defer polls

The opposition Congress Tuesday called on State Election Commissioner SS Brar to demand deferment of block samiti and zila parishad elections by at least two weeks.

The opposition Congress Tuesday called on State Election Commissioner SS Brar to demand deferment of block samiti and zila parishad elections by at least two weeks. In a memorandum submitted to Brar,a delegation of senior Congress leaders led by state Congress chief Partap Singh Bajwa cited wheat harvesting season,which would continue for another 15 days.

The Congress has learnt that the notification for the elections to panchayat samiti and zila parishad in the state is going to be issued very shortly. The election process has been scheduled to start from April 26 with filing of nominations. We request rescheduling of these elections by giving at least 15 days time. It will be unfair to the people of Punjab to push them through the election when crop harvesting is on full swing. Not only would it be inconvenient for farmers to participate in elections with full fervour and enthusiasm,it would also be extremely difficult for political parties and contestants to canvass in the villages, the memorandum said.

The party said notifications for formation of some new blocks and re-delimitation of certain others has been issued as late as on April 16 and 18. The voters of the said areas are not yet aware about this and it would be unfair and illegal to begin the election process without appropriate time frame and notice, the party said.

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Alleging that the ruling party prospective candidates had prior knowledge about the status of reservation,the party said rotation of reservation has to be widely publicised before the start of election process but no publication in print,electronic or any other media has been made in this respect. It also questioned the timing of the notification on April 18 late evening saying it was followed by three holidays.

State Congress spokesman Sukhpal Khaira said the state election commissioner has assured to look into the matter. Not very hopeful of a positive outcome from the state poll panel,the party has also started the process of inviting applications from candidates.

Sanjha Morcha to call on state poll panel today

The Sanjha Morcha under the chairmanship of Peoples Party of Punjab chief Manpreet Badal Tuesday decided to contest ensuing panchayati raj elections in Punjab on party symbol. Governments intentions are already clear from the way it is conducting the process. Notification has not been made public and demarcation of zones too have not been notified at the DC level. Sanjha Morcha will fight against these evil designs and will approach the State Election Commission and the Governor for the purpose. A delegation of 12 Sanjha Morcha members will present a memorandum to the governor, Manpreet said.

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