CHANDIGARH: Partap Singh Bajwa, Leader of Opposition, Punjab, has welcomed the Hon’ble Supreme Court’s firm stance against the glaring irregularities in the recently concluded Panchayat elections in Punjab. The AAP-led government’s manipulation of the election process has drawn severe criticism from the Court, which highlighted the troubling fact that 3, 000 out of 13, 000 Gram Panchayat posts were filled unopposed. The Chief Justice of India, Hon’ble Sanjiv Khanna, termed this number “substantial, ” raising serious concerns about the integrity of the elections.
The Supreme Court, while hearing a batch of petitions challenging the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s dismissal of over 800 cases of arbitrary rejection of nomination papers, expressed grave displeasure over the procedural lapses. The preponing of hearings without adequate notice to the petitioners was described by the Chief Justice as “very strange.” He remarked, “This is something unimaginable. I have never seen such figures!” These observations underline the gravity of the situation and expose the AAP government’s failure to conduct free and fair elections in Punjab.
Bajwa welcomed the Supreme Court’s directive to the Election Tribunal to decide all election petitions within six months, warning the State against any interference. He hailed this decision as a vital step toward restoring the people’s faith in Punjab’s democratic processes. “The Supreme Court’s intervention is a beacon of hope for all those who have been denied justice. It sends a clear message that such undemocratic practices will not be tolerated, ” Bajwa said.
He further criticized the AAP government for undermining Punjab’s rich democratic legacy with its coercive tactics and favoritism. Bajwa described the AAP government’s actions as a betrayal of the people’s trust, adding that the people of Punjab, known for their resilience and commitment to justice, would not bow down to authoritarian maneuvers.
Reiterating the Congress party’s resolve to stand by the affected candidates, Bajwa announced that the party would provide free legal aid to those whose nomination papers were unjustly rejected or who were unfairly declared elected unopposed. Legal panels will be formed at the district level to ensure that every aggrieved candidate has access to justice. Bajwa also assured the people that the Congress party would remain vigilant in safeguarding the democratic process in the upcoming Municipal elections.
“Punjab’s democratic spirit cannot be extinguished by coercion or favoritism. The Congress party will continue to fight for the rights of the people and the sanctity of the electoral process, ” he concluded.