Punjab: AAP is ‘manipulating’ panchayat elections, alleges Waring

Punjab: Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president and Ludhiana MP Amarinder Singh Raja Warring has expressed deep concern over the Punjab government’s “blatant manipulation” ahead of the upcoming panchayat elections. Warring accused the Bhagwant Mann government of deliberately delaying the release of village reservation lists, thereby giving undue advantage to candidates affiliated to the AAP.

“A well-planned move has been taken by the AAP government to ensure that only persons directly affiliated to their party are elected as sarpanches in these villages. By withholding the village reservation lists, they are giving their people extra time to prepare, while other candidates across Punjab will have to struggle to campaign in the short time left,” Waring said. “The panchayat elections are being held after a very long time and for the first time in the tenure of this government. With the withholding of the lists, aspiring candidates are left in limbo, unable to complete their required documents in time, making them unable to campaign effectively,” the PPCC chief said.