With October 15 panchayat polls looming, political tensions are escalating in Punjab as the Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) accuse the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Government of manipulating the election process. Both opposition parties claimed that state machinery is being misused to ensure the rejection of nomination papers submitted by candidates backed by opposition groups.   Vocal in his criticism of the AAP government, the Leader of Opposition in Vidhan Sabha Partap Singh Bajwa on Sunday alleged that it is systematically dismantling democratic processes through coercive tactics.   He condemned Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for ignoring what he describes as orchestrated manipulation, suggesting that the government is desperate to retain power by any means necessary. This is a calculated and sinister plot directed from the top, Bajwa asserted, accusing AAP leaders of hijacking the electoral machinery to secure victories for their candidates while creating hurdles for opposition candidates.   Bajwa further claimed that the election process is rife with irregularities, describing it as nothing short of a sham. He accused AAP leaders of issuing directives to block development and compelling panchayat officials to annul nominations on fabricated grounds. Opposition candidates are being disqualified on spurious technicalities or held up for hours. This is not an election; it is an autocratic takeover of our villages, he declared, urging the Punjab State Election Commission to intervene to protect democratic norms.   SAD echoed these sentiments, alleging that the AAP Government is stifling democracy by obstructing opposition members from filing their nominations. Senior SAD leader Daljit Singh Cheema announced the formation of a high-level legal team to address these issues and indicated that the party plans to file petitions in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. He mentioned receiving numerous complaints about the widespread rejection of nominations for sarpanch and panch positions, raising alarms about the integrity of the electoral process.   Cheema criticized the lack of action from the State Election Commission despite their repeated appeals. We have been approaching the Commission with our complaints, but they have not been addressed, he said, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.   In defense of the government, AAP leader and MP Malvinder Singh Kang refuted the oppositions accusations, asserting that the AAP administration is committed to maintaining transparency and integrity in the electoral process. He criticized previous governments, including the Congress, Akali Dal, and BJP, for abusing their power to undermine democratic practices.   For over two decades, panchayat elections in Punjab have been marred by manipulation and violence. The current AAP government is dedicated to empowering the people of Punjab and ensuring their participation in the democratic process without fear, he stated.   Kang highlighted the upcoming panchayat elections as a vital component of democracy, expressing the need for active participation from all citizens. He presented data showing a significant increase in nominations compared to the 2018 elections, claiming that 52,825 nominations have been submitted for sarpanch positions this year, up from 48,111 under Congress. For panch positions, the numbers have similarly increased from 1,62,383 to 1,66,338.   This data indicates that our government is encouraging citizen participation in democracy, and they are responding positively, Kang concluded, underscoring the commitment of the AAP administration to a fair electoral process.

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