Photo Source: Babushahi Bureau
Congress Rana Gurjeet Singh alleges irregularities in Zila Parishad and Block Samiti Elections
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, December 14, 2025:Kapurthala Congress MLA Rana Gurjeet Singh on Sunday leveled serious allegations of large-scale irregularities in the Zila Parishad and Block Samiti elections held across Punjab, accusing the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government and the State Election Commission of compromising the democratic process.
Addressing the media, Rana Gurjeet Singh said that Form 17-C— a mandatory document detailing the exact number of votes polled at each polling station— was not provided to representatives of political parties and their polling agents during the elections conducted on December 14. He termed the lapse a “grave violation” of established electoral norms.
The Congress legislator claimed that complaints regarding unfair practices were being reported from nearly all districts of the state. “By not issuing Form 17-C, the State Election Commission has failed to ensure transparency in the polling process. This raises serious doubts and clearly indicates possible wrongdoing,” he alleged.
Rana Gurjeet Singh further asserted that the absence of Form 17-C creates room for manipulation of votes in favour of candidates belonging to the ruling party. “There is a strong possibility that votes polled for opposition candidates could be tampered with to allegedly benefit AAP candidates,” he said.
Questioning the intent of the ruling party, the Kapurthala MLA said, “AAP leaders, including ministers and MLAs, repeatedly claim they enjoy overwhelming public support. If that is true, why does the government feel the need to adopt questionable practices during rural body elections?”
Seeking immediate corrective measures, Rana Gurjeet Singh demanded strict action against officials involved in the alleged irregularities. He also called for the cancellation of the affected polls and fresh elections under strict monitoring to ensure fairness and transparency.
The Congress leader further alleged that the election process had been controversial from the nomination stage itself. “The people of Punjab are watching closely. These grassroots elections involve ordinary citizens, and they deserve a clean and credible democratic process. Any compromise will erode public trust in democracy,” he warned.