POLLING in Bathinda concluded on Wednesday amid allegations of booth capturing, misconduct by officials, violence and fake voting. Congress-PPP candidate Manpreet Singh Badal lodged a complaint with the EC, demanding repolls in five booths — all in Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s constituency of Lambi. In Godhewala area of Moga, under Faridkot constituency, locals complained of fake voting. In his complaint to the EC, Manpreet stated that a probe needs to be conducted into the actions of the Muktsar district administration and ARO Sanjay Rishi. He demanded repoll in five villages — Kollianwali, Sham khera, Chappianwali, Lohara and Burj Sidhwan. He claimed that SAD’s Dyal Singh Kollianwali, also a member of the SGPC, led a cavalcade of goons and hijacked booths in 16 villages. “He was also distributing liquor and money as his cavalcade of cars, jeeps and other vehicles went around threatening people to cast votes in favour of Harsimrat Kaur Badal.,” Manpreet added. While Manpreet claimed that the five villages where he wants repolling, saw absolute booth capture, Muktsar SSP Surjeet Singh denied the allegations. While there were reports of heated arguments at a polling booth in Badal village, two sustained injuries in Sangatpura village in Faridkot when Congress and SAD supporters clashed. At Multania area in Bathinda, a Congress supporter was injured in stone pelting. While violence was reported from Gidderbaha as well, Congress and SAD supporters pelted stones on each other in Multania road. Meanwhile, at Sangatpura village in Baghapurana, Congress and SAD supporters clashed over allegations of voters being influenced. In the scuffle, SAD leaders Jaswinder Singh and Gurmail Singh sustained injuries. Jaswinder is the son of SGPC member Gurmail Singh.
