A joint Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)- Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) delegation today urged the State Election Commission to take action against officials working as agents of the Congress party by denying no due certificates to SAD-BJP candidates for the forthcoming municipal elections even as it highlighted excesses being meted out to SAD candidates in Mallanwala and Makhu in Ferozepur.The joint delegation, led by senior Akali leader Jathedar Tota Singh, told State Election Commissioner Jagpal Singh Sandhu that false cases had been registered against five Akali workers who had complained about the conduct of Mallanwala and Makhu nagar panchayat Executive Officer. He said the Akali leaders had approached the Ferozepur deputy commissioner because the EO was refusing to give them no due certificates. The delegation members instead of giving them any relief the local police registered cases against.the five workers including Nishan Singh Bhullar, VP nagar panchayat Mallanwala, Gurlal Singh, Vice President market committee Mallanwala, Ajay Kumar - President YAD SC wing Mallanwala, Joga Singh and Darshan Singh, VP, Market Committee, Makhu.The workers were picked up by police the EO kept sitting in the local mla's residence, the delegation members added.
Briefing the CEO, SAD Vice President Dr Daljit Singh Cheema said both SHOs of Mallanwala and Makhu had joined on the same date the municipal elections were announced. He said they should be removed from their posts immediately to ensure free and fair election in both nagar panchayats. Dr Cheema also demanded that elections to both Mallanwala and Makhu nagar panchayats be put off and held separately at a later date.The delegation members also told the CEO that no due certificates were not being given to Akali workers in Moga, Dharamkot and Baghapurana. They said a similar situation existed in Rajasansi and unless the CEO did not crack the whip against errant officials there was no hope of free and fair elections being held in the State.BJP secretary Vineet Joshi disclosed how names of prospective candidates were being struck off lists and that complaints filed against returning officers were going unheard. Others in the delegation included Akali leaders Iqbal Singh Jhundan and Charanjit Singh Brar.