BJP targets Chahal, councillors on rigging row

Chandigarh, Nov 1 (UNI) Punjab BJP today submitted a memorandum to the Governor Lt Gen (Retd) S F Rodrigues, seeking annulment of Saturday's MC by elections in Ward number 32 of Patiala alleging largescale rigging sponsored by Congress.

BJP state President Avinash Rai Khanna led a party delegation to apprise the Governor of the scale of bogus electioneering in connivance of district administration under pressure from B I S Chahal, Media Advisor to Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, party sources said.

The team told the Governor that Mr Chahal was constantly present on the polling stations which witnessed large scale rigging in wake of unprecedented highhandedness at the behest of Mr Chahal, who,they alleged was openly seen encouraging the leaders later seen as capturing booths in Patiala.

Demanding a probe into the role of high-level functionaries, including Mr Chahal, the BJP sought a fair probe into the booth capturing and mass rigging as exposed by the media reports and video CD released by party early this week.

Mr Khanna appealed to the Governor to immediately institute a high- level probe into the allegations against the Congress councilors from Patiala.

Mr Khanna, after submitting the memorandum to the Governor, said ''We feel Saturday's open booth capturing in CM's home constituency in presence of CM's confidante and influential officer like Mr Chahal is nothing short of sheer rape of democracy by CM's own men in his hometown,'' added Khanna.

''We want nothing short of Central forces for the state assembly polls scheduled to be held early next year. The public of Punjab has witnessed the trailor of violence and rampage on Saturday and we don't want more of it, Mr Khanna said.

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