Cong, CPI, CPM demand 'scrapping' of MC polls

Chandigarh, Aug 8 (UNI) The Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC), the CPI and CPM have alleged large scale rigging and use of muscle power in the Municipal Corporation (MC) polls in Amritsar, Patiala, Ludhiana and Jalandhar, where votes were cast today and demanded that the polls be declared null and void.

A joint statement by PPCC chief Shamsher Singh Dullo, CPM state secretary Balwant and senior CPI leader Joginder Dayal said that the ruling SAD-BJP alliance had throwing democratic norms to the wind in order to win the polls. The brutal assault on democracy in these elections by the SAD-BJP was a ''shameful act''.

The leaders demanded the State Election Commission declare these elections null and void and hold fresh polls under the supervision of central forces to ensure free and fair polls.

The three parties have threatened to launch a peaceful agitation against the State Government. The leaders also demanded immediate resignation of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on 'moral grounds'.

The unruly scenes created by the ruling combine had murdered the very spirit of democracy in all the four Municipal Corporations. In Amritsar, Jalandhar , Patiala and Ludhiana police personal attacked the Congress booths and candidates, the statement alleged.

Despite reporting these incidents to the State Election Commission and the local administration, ''vandalism by goons of the SAD-BJP remained unchecked throughout the day.'' Police officials had openly entered the polling booths to cast votes in favour of the ruling alliance, he added.

The statement further alleged that the contest in the MC polls seemed to be between the Congress and the police. The premises of Congress candidates were raided and they were threatened and asked to withdraw from the contest, the statement claimed.

The three leaders said that they had requested the Election Commission to hold the elections under the supervision of Central and para-military forces but the request was turned down. ''Instead of holding elections and wasting public money, the ruling alliance should have nominated the councillors,'' the statement added.

UNI