Punjab Cong alleges code violation by SAD-BJP in MC polls

Chandigarh, Jul 31 (UNI) The Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) has accused the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)-BJP alliance of brazen violation of the code of conduct and misuse of official machinery in the campaign to the Municipal Corporation (MC) polls, to be held in Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Patiala on August 8.

In a memorandum submitted to the state Election Commission, the Congress alleged that identity cards pertaining to the 'Atta-Dal Scheme' were being issued in the four cities. This was a violation of the code of conduct and should be halted immediately.

The Election Commission should curb the government administration and machinery from being a tool of the ruling alliance in the elections, the memorandum signed by PPCC chief Shamsher Singh Dullo and Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly Rajinder Kaur Bhattal stated here today. For free and fair conduct of the polls, the staff for these elections should be appointed from outside the concerned districts, the memorandum suggested.

The memorandum further alleged that the government was using its enforcement agencies to harass the sympathisers and voters of the Congress party. Congress candidates are being threatened by police officials and threats are being issued to implicate them in false cases, the memorandum claimed while calling upon the Election Commission to safeguard the interests of all parties.

It has been observed that delimitation of municipal wards in all the Corporations had been done without following the criterion of consulting or asking for objections from all the recognised political parties, which is against the ethics of free and fair elections, the memorandum said. The memorandum requested that either the elections should be held as per previous limits of wards or be held after proper hearing is given to all the political parties.

MORE UNI