Ahead of the civic polls in Punjab, an SAD-BJP delegation today urged the State Election Commission to take action against officials allegedly working as "agents" of the ruling Congress.
The delegation, led by senior Akali leader Jathedar Tota Singh accused government officials of denying no-due certificates to SAD-BJP candidates for the civic body elections to be held on December 17.
They told State Election Commissioner Jagpal Singh Sandhu that "false" cases have been registered against five Akali workers who had complained about the conduct of Mallanwala and Makhu nagar panchayat executive officer, a release by the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) said.
The delegation alleged that Akali leaders had approached the Ferozepur deputy commissioner because the executive officer refused to give them no-due certificates.
Members of the SAD-BJP delegation claimed that instead of giving the Akali leaders any relief, the police registered cases against five party workers.
SAD Vice President Daljit Singh Cheema said both the SHOs of Mallanwala and Makhu had taken charge of the police stations on the date the municipal elections were announced.
He said they should be removed from their posts immediately to ensure free and fair election in both the nagar panchayats.
Cheema also demanded that elections to both Mallanwala and Makhu nagar panchayats be be held separately later.
The delegation told the State Election Commissioner that no-due certificates were also not given to Akali workers in Moga, Dharamkot and Baghapurana and similar situation prevailed in Rajasansi
According to the relase, the delegations said that unless the state election commissioner cracked the whip against errant officials there was no hope of a free and fair elections in the state.
BJP leader Vineet Joshi alleged that names of prospective candidates were being struck off lists and complaints filed against returning officers were going unheard.
Cheema demanded that Punjab chief secretary order a probe into the alleged installation of photos of Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and the local Congress MLA by the party's youth wing activists at two police stations in Sangrur yesterday.
The SAD leader demanded that the chief secretary order removal of the portraits immediately and issue directions to civil and police administration about the code for installing installation such photos.
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