Punjab Polls in Turmoil: Allegations, Violence, and High Court Intervention

The Punjab election process has been marred by allegations of violence, political bias, and administrative lapses, leading to public outrage and judicial intervention. In a significant development, the Punjab and Haryana High Court directed the State Election Commission (SEC) to ensure videography of the nomination process for municipal elections, set to continue until December 14. The directive, issued by a bench of Justice Sureshwar Thakur and Justice Kirti Singh, comes in response to a petition by BJP candidates from Patiala, who accused officials of obstructing their nominations and acting under political influence.

Rai Kot Protests and Police Action

Meanwhile, in Ludhiana’s Rai Kot town, tensions erupted as 16 out of 24 nominations for a cooperative society election were rejected. Supporters of the excluded candidates staged protests outside the cooperative society’s gate, alleging bias by the Returning Officer. Police resorted to lathi charges to disperse the crowd, escalating the situation. Videos of the incident have gone viral, sparking public outrage and discussions about governance transparency.

Patiala Violence and Alleged Intimidation

In Patiala, reports of violence during the Municipal Corporation nomination process further fueled political unrest. Opposition candidates from Congress, Akali Dal, and BJP claimed they were harassed, their nomination papers snatched, and women candidates assaulted, all under police inaction. Viral videos depicted unidentified attackers disrupting the process, while BJP leader Preneet Kaur alleged a conspiracy by local ruling party MLAs.

Judicial Oversight Amid Electoral Chaos

The High Court’s directive for videography underscores a move to ensure transparency in a process riddled with allegations of partisanship and voter suppression. Punjab Congress Chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring accused the police of selectively using force to aid ruling party candidates, further intensifying the political slugfest.

The ongoing turmoil in Punjab reflects deeper systemic issues, raising serious concerns about democratic fairness and institutional accountability.

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