Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President Capt Amarinder Singh today warned against the arbitrary delimitation of wards being done by the government in view of ensuing panchayat and local bodies’ elections in the state.The PCC President said, this was total subversion of the democratic process by the Akalis aimed at winning the panchayat and local bodies’ election by fraudulent means. He asked the State Election Commission to look into the matter lest the Congress will have to seek legal intervention.In a statement issued here today, Capt Amarinder said, he had received complaints from across the state by the Congress workers and leaders that the delimitation was being affected quite in an arbitrary manner at the behest of the Akalis in a way to ensure their victory in the elections.He said, the job of the delimitation of wards has been given to the panchayat secretaries who find it difficult to resist the pressure and influence of the Akali leaders to affect the delimitation in such manner that ensures their victory.
The PCC President stated that the Congress workers had filed objections with the local Sub pisional Magistrates but no action was being taken apparently at the instance of the powers that be.Asking the State Election Commission and the respective Deputy Commissioners to ensure fair and rational delimitation of the wards, Capt Amarinder said, the purpose (of the delimitation) is to rationalise the contours of the respective wards for proper administration and not to subvert the process for facilitating the Akali victories in the panchayats and other local bodies’ elections.