MUKTSAR: The Shiromani Akali Dal has alleged violation of election rules and code of conduct by the Congress party in Gidderbaba by-election after formally launching the election campaign of the party candidate, Manpreet Singh Badal, here, last Week, Prakash Singh Badal, while addressing press conference said that they would approach the Election Commission to bring to riot ice the threats allegedly being issued by the Chief Minister, Beant Singh, to the People of Gidderbaha constituency and government officers of the district, Badal said that Beant Singh, in his ‘Speech at the May Day function at Gidderbaha, had declared that if the Akali Dal candidate was elected, no development works would be undertaken in the area. He had also threatened the government officers with ‘suspension if they helped any other political party in the election,

Badal alleged that Congress party ‘was using government machinery for electoral purposes. He said the state government had transferred a large number of panchayat secretaries and ‘other employees out of the district before the notification. He said Congress was using pressure tactics ‘against the government employees.

Badal demanded making of photo Identity cards compulsory for polling for Gidderbaha election as all genuine voters had received these cards. He alleged that the Congress had registered a large number of bogus voters. He said that while 97,000 I-cards had been made, the number of voters in the electoral rolls was about 1.18 lakh. He said that about 20,000 bogus voters had figured on the rolls.

Badal alleged that Punjab government had failed on all fronts and it had crossed the world record in corruption, He said even single demand of the state had not been acceded by te Center. He stated that Gidderbaha election would be a referendum against the policies of the state government and the Center. The SAD chief pointed out that no section of society was happy with the present regime, He said the farmers had been the worst affected. Badal said clean drinking water was not available in villages, hospitals lacked doctors and medicines and there were no teachers in schools.

Badal said that strong front of likeminded political parties against Congress Party had come into existence; He thanked the BKU leadership for extending support to Akali Dal candidate and said that their alliance would continue in future. He also appealed to other opposition parties not to field their candidates from Gidderbaha to ensure defeat of Congress candidate.

Badal, while addressing the meeting of party workers said that Congress was trying to divide people along communal lines while the Akali Dal ‘was making afforest strengthen communal harmony. Senior Akali leaders, Gurcharan Singh Tohra, Jagdev Singh Talwandi, Surjit Singh Bamala, Manjit Singh, and Ajmer Singh Lakhowal, president of BKU also addressed the workers’ meeting. They appealed to the voters to defeat Congress party. .

Meanwhile, Paramjit Singh Lalli, a cousin of Parkash Singh Badal and nephew of Teja Singh Badal also filed nomination papers as an independent candidate. The two are sworn enemies and have common relations living in the area. Simranjit Singh Mann had appealed to the Akali Dal leaders to filed Lalli as party candidate. Surprisingly, Gurmit Singh Khudian, who was at ‘One stage considered the candidate of Lok Yudh Morcha BKU alliance also announced his support for Lalli, He accompanied Lalli to file nomination papers. According to Deepinder Singh, there turning officer, four more ruminations were received last week they are Manpreet Singh Badal of Akali Dal, Paramjit Singh Lalli, Aviar Singh and Parminder Singh of Bahujan Samaj Party (Ambedkar),

Article extracted from this publication >> May 12, 1995