Senior Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa has approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court, accusing the state government of “compromising democratic values” during the ongoing rural local body elections. Bajwa has alleged that irregularities in the nomination process, rejection of candidates’ papers, and obstruction of opposition nominees point towards a systematic attempt to influence the polls.
According to Bajwa, several Congress-backed candidates faced unjustified hurdles while submitting their nomination papers, forcing them to either withdraw or face rejection without valid grounds. He argued that such practices undermine the essence of free and fair elections in rural governance, which directly impacts village administration and grassroots democracy.
In his petition, Bajwa has sought the High Court’s intervention to restore transparency in the election process and ensure that nomination scrutiny is conducted strictly as per established legal procedures. He has also demanded that the election authorities take immediate steps to safeguard the rights of candidates who were allegedly prevented from filing their papers.
The matter is expected to be heard soon, and the High Court’s directions could influence the pace and credibility of the rural poll process in the state.
