ECI disqualifies 161 candidates in state

The Election Commission of India has disqualified 161 Assembly and Lok Sabha candidates in Punjab due to various reasons,main being their inability to justify or give their election expenditure.

The list released here today by the Chief Electoral Officer,Punjab,included Harpartap Singh Ajnala of the Congress who fought from Ajnala assembly constituency,Karnail Singh Panjoli of the SAD and Atinder Pal Singh.

All these candidates have been disqualified till April 7,2011. In a reply,the state has informed the CEO that Rs 161 crore were earmarked for 703 people,whose land was acquired for central university in Bathinda. They were not beneficiaries,but affected.

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The commission will now monitor programmes of the five regional channels,Punjabi Plus,Josh,Fida,Tadka and Fastway. The pre-recorded programmes would be first screened by the officer concerned. Action against violations will be taken under the Cable Act and also relevant sections of other Acts,said sources.

The CEO has also sent a notice to the Jalandhar DC,asking if Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal’s cavalcade had red beacons as reported in the media.

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