SEC orders re-polling in two booths of Mohali
Counting of votes for Mohali MC will be on Feb 18 now
Harshabab Sidhu
Chandigarh, February 16, 2021: The State Election Commission today directed the Mohali Sub Divisional Magistrate cum Returning Officer for conducting re-polling of Municipal Corporation (MC) in two booths of ward number 10 here.
Following the irregularities in booth number 32 and 33 of ward number 10, the re-polling will take place on February 17 from 8 am to 4 pm. The counting of votes for Mohali MC has now been rescheduled to February 18 and it will begin at 9 am.
The returning officer had submitted a report to the SEC in this regard. In the report, the RO has submitted that a representation was given to the Deputy Commissioner, Mohali for inquiry and he has conducted a summary inquiry and perused the relevant record. However, during enquiry, allegations made by the complainant, Paramjeet Singh Kahlon, a candidate of Azad Group, have also been substantiated.
The order of the SEC reads, "Perusal of the report and record proves that polling process of booth numbers 32 and 33 of ward No.10 has been vitiated as provided under Section 59(1)(c) of the Punjab State Election Commission Act, 1994."
Pertinently, Paramjeet Singh Kahlon of Azad Group had submitted a complaint to the SEC on the day of polling and demanded re-polling in these two wards. He had levelled allegations against the health minister Balbir Singh Sidhu and the police for forcefully evicted his election agents from booth number 32 and 33. He stated in his complaint that a few workers of Congressmen illegally captured the booth in Phase 7.