A political storm has erupted in Punjab's Patiala district over the nomination process for zila parishad and block samiti elections, with opposition candidates resorting to carrying duplicate nomination files to counter alleged coercive tactics. The opposition has accused the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government and the local administration of orchestrating a campaign of intimidation to prevent rivals from filing their papers.
Strategy of Duplicate Files Foils Snatching Attempts
The filing of nominations concluded on Thursday amidst high tension and dramatic scenes. In a revealing strategy, opposition parties, anticipating that their nomination papers would be snatched or torn, instructed their candidates to prepare multiple sets of documents. This pre-emptive move proved crucial in several instances.
In Nabha, Congress candidate Gurmeet Kaur, who is contesting for the Banera Kalan block committee, alleged that her nomination file was snatched from her husband Bhim Singh inside the administrative complex corridor near the DSP's office, in the presence of police. However, she successfully submitted her papers because the Congress party had prepared an alternate set in advance. Youth Congress leader Manjinder Singh revealed he had directed 25 block samiti and three zila parishad candidates in Nabha to carry duplicate files. "The idea was to make those sent to snatch papers believe they had succeeded, while the original file could still be quietly submitted," he explained.
This pattern repeated across the district. In Ghanaur and other blocks, Congress candidates arrived with duplicate sets and, in several cases, managed to file nominations despite reported snatching attempts on the last day.
Widespread Allegations of Organized Obstruction
Leaders from the Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have collectively condemned the incidents, arguing they reflect a systematic attempt to manipulate the rural polls. They accused the AAP government of employing a "saam, daam, dand, bhed" style policy, a phrase referring to the use of all means—conciliation, monetary inducement, punishment, and division—to achieve goals.
Youth Akali Dal leader Sarabjit Singh Jhinjer provided a breakdown from the Ghanaur and Shambu zones, stating, "Out of 35 seats, 28 of our candidates managed to file nominations while others faced either snatching or were not allowed to reach the nomination centers." He emphasized that the pattern from Nabha to Ghanaur and Samana reflected an organized attempt to keep rival candidates off the ballot.
Former Congress MLA from Ghanaur, Madan Lal Jalalpur, gave a detailed account: "Nomination papers of several Congress candidates were torn or snatched inside the tehsil complex and adjoining college premises, amid heavy police deployment. On the last day, we played a strategy to fool the snatchers as everyone took duplicate files. This strategy worked. However, one of our candidates, Jony Devi, was robbed of both files."
Police Actions and Counter-Claims
The controversy also touched upon police actions against potential candidates. In Samana, a former sarpanch associated with the SAD (B), who intended to contest, faced a police raid at his house. He alleged he suffered severe ankle injuries during the action and claimed the raid was solely aimed at preventing him from participating in the elections. He admitted being declared a proclaimed offender (PO) for over two years but said his counsel was contesting the case.
SHO of Samana, Winnerpreet Singh, countered the allegations, stating the accused was a PO and sustained injuries after trying to escape by jumping from the house roof. The SHO added that the accused was undergoing treatment at his residence and that legal action was taken against his family for sheltering him and obstructing police duty.
In the Nabha snatching case, when asked about identifying the accused or reviewing CCTV footage, SHO Nabha S S Cheema said no arrests were made as an application had been sent to the SDM Nabha regarding the matter.
Opposition leaders have issued a stern warning, stating that the very need for candidates to carry multiple files shows a profound lack of faith in on-ground security arrangements. They argue that if such practices go unchecked, rural polls risk turning into contests of muscle power and manipulation rather than free and fair elections, ultimately depriving voters of a genuine choice.
