Punjab: SAD candidate Daljit Singh Cheema accuses AAP of “interfering” in electoral process

Gurdaspur (Punjab) [India], June 1 (ANI): Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) candidate Daljit Singh Cheema has accused the Aam Aadmi Party candidate of distributing voter slips with photos of Bhagwant Mann, Arvind Kejriwal and the AAP symbol at polling booths in Punjab on Saturday.

Cheema said, “The Election Commission of India has clearly stated that there should be no party symbol or photos of candidates on the voter slips. But the AAP candidate (Amansher Singh) in Gurdaspur has been distributing voter slips with photos of Bhagwant Mann, Arvind Kejriwal, the AAP election symbol, and the candidate’s photo on it. We have complained to the election observer. An AAP leader Pannu (Balbir Singh Pannu), who is not a candidate, has been entering a polling booth and threatening people. We have given videos of this to EC to take action.”

On his official X handle, Cheema posted the video of AAP leader Balbir Singh Pannu and alleged that the latter forcibly entered a polling booth.

“Sir, please see this video. In this AAP leader Balbir Singh Pannu, Vice Chairman Punsup Punjab has forcibly entered booth number 131 village Kot Ahmed Khan of Fatehgarh Churian assembly constituency. He is threatening the other party workers and interfering in the poll process. Please order to register a case against him & arrest him immediately,” he said.

SAD’s Cheema is in the electoral battle on the Gurdaspur seat against Congress’ Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and AAP’s Amansher Singh. BJP has fielded Dinesh Singh from the seat.

Meanwhile, Punjab recorded voter turnout at 37.80 pc till 1 pm.

All 13 parliamentary constituencies of Punjab voted today in the last phase of the Lok Sabha elections.

Polling for the earlier six phases of Lok Sabha elections was held on April 19, April 26, May 7, May 13, May 20 and May 25. Assembly polls have also been held in Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh. Odisha is also seeing simultaneous polls to Lok Sabha and assembly in the last four phases.