In his first major statement after taking charge as the president of the Bharatiya Janata Party's Punjab unit, Kewal Singh Dhillon launched a blistering attack on the Aam Aadmi Party, accusing it of perpetrating the biggest municipal corporation election fraud in the state's history. Dhillon, who succeeded Sunil Jakhar, made the allegations during a press conference in Chandigarh on Tuesday.
Allegations of Rigging
Dhillon claimed that the recently concluded municipal corporation polls in Punjab were marred by widespread irregularities and manipulation. He asserted that the AAP government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, orchestrated a massive scam to influence the election results in its favor. The BJP chief alleged that the ruling party used state machinery to intimidate opponents and manipulate voter lists.
Specific Incidents Cited
Providing details, Dhillon pointed to several instances where, he said, AAP workers were allowed to cast votes multiple times, while opposition agents were barred from polling booths. He also accused the administration of tampering with electronic voting machines and delaying the counting process to facilitate fraud. The BJP leader demanded a thorough investigation by the Election Commission of India, urging it to take suo motu cognizance of the matter.
Political Reactions
The AAP, however, dismissed Dhillon's allegations as baseless and politically motivated. Party spokesperson Malvinder Singh Kang retorted that the BJP was unable to digest its poor performance in the polls and was resorting to false accusations. Kang challenged Dhillon to provide concrete evidence of the alleged fraud, warning that legal action would be taken if unsubstantiated claims were made.
BJP's Strategy
Political analysts view Dhillon's aggressive stance as a strategic move to revive the BJP's fortunes in Punjab, where the party has been struggling to regain its foothold after the 2022 assembly elections. By targeting the AAP on the issue of electoral integrity, the BJP aims to position itself as a champion of democratic values. Dhillon's appointment as state chief is seen as an attempt to consolidate the party's base among Dalits and other backward classes, given his background as a former Congress leader and his influence in the Malwa region.
Call for Action
Concluding his statement, Dhillon urged the people of Punjab to remain vigilant and not let the AAP undermine the democratic process. He announced that the BJP would launch a statewide agitation to demand a re-election in the affected wards. The party also plans to approach the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking a judicial inquiry into the polling process.
