Chandigarh, December 13
Leader of the Opposition, Punjab, Partap Singh Bajwa, has expressed grave concern over the complete inaction of the State Election Commission despite detailed written representations flagging blatant misuse of police machinery, voter intimidation, and systematic attempts to vitiate the Zila Parishad and Block Samiti elections.
Bajwa said that more than 24 hours have passed since he formally wrote to the State Election Commissioner, placing on record serious apprehensions about violence, booth capturing, vote rigging and partisan policing at sensitive polling stations across Gurdaspur district. He had sought deployment of adequate security forces, Quick Reaction Teams, mandatory CCTV coverage with live streaming on the SEC website, and assured access to footage for candidates to ensure transparency. However, despite the urgency of the situation and the ongoing election process, no action whatsoever has been taken by the SEC so far, he said.
The LoP further stated that he had also brought to the Commission’s notice a shocking incident from Village Alma, where police officials conducted an intimidation-driven raid at the residence of a Congress worker during the election period, allegedly at the behest of senior police leadership acting under political pressure. Women family members were harassed, property was forcibly searched, and no incriminating material was found — clearly exposing the intent to terrorise opposition workers.
Bajwa said he had categorically demanded stern disciplinary action and immediate transfer of partisan police officers, warning that their continued presence would destroy the fairness of elections in the Qadian constituency. “The SEC’s silence even after receiving these serious complaints sends a dangerous signal and has emboldened the ruling AAP government,” he said.
“The message coming from CM Bhagwant Mann’s government is clear — dissent will be crushed, opposition will be intimidated, and elections will be managed through fear,” Bajwa asserted. He said that when warnings from the Leader of the Opposition remain unattended even after 24 hours, it raises serious questions about whether the AAP government has decided to destroy democracy completely in Punjab.
Bajwa warned that history will not forgive those who remained silent spectators while democratic institutions were systematically weakened. “Punjab deserves free and fair elections, not state-sponsored intimidation under AAP rule,” he said.
