Photo Source; Babushhai Bureau
SAD alleges AAP–SEC–Police nexus in Samiti, Zila Parishad Polls; demands judicial probe
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, December 14, 2025: The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Sunday accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of “stealing” the Block Samiti and Zila Parishad elections in collusion with the State Election Commission (SEC) and the Punjab Police, and demanded a judicial probe into the functioning of the SEC along with its immediate removal.
Addressing a press conference here, senior SAD leaders Dr Daljit Singh Cheema and Arshdeep Singh Kler alleged that the ruling party had blatantly subverted the democratic process. They said the party would also approach the Punjab Governor seeking intervention in the matter and would pursue appropriate legal remedies.
Dr Cheema and Mr Kler claimed that, for the first time in the state’s history, a ruling party had allegedly captured polling booths by using arms and weapons, attacked opposition workers and indulged in large-scale rigging. They cited incidents of violence at Qazikot in Tarn Taran, Talwandi Dasondha Singh in Majitha, Naushehra Majasingh in Batala, Kingra in Malout, Madhir and Babania in Gidderbaha, and Dharamkot, where several SAD workers were injured.
Alleging coordinated attacks, Dr Cheema said AAP workers resorted to firing at multiple locations and even used proclaimed offenders to attack polling staff in Talwandi Dasondha Singh. “Democracy has been murdered. The State Election Commission has failed to conduct Panchayati Raj institution elections in a fair manner and has instead acted as a tool of the Aam Aadmi Party. This has eroded the faith of Punjabis in grassroots democracy and urgent corrective steps are required,” he said.
The SAD leaders further alleged that the entire election process was vitiated as part of a well-planned conspiracy. Dr Cheema claimed that ballot papers were handed over to AAP candidates in advance, and cited the case of AAP candidate Amarinder Singh Madofal in Fatehgarh Sahib, alleging that ballot papers were released nearly ten hours before polling. “Despite bringing this to the notice of State Election Commissioner Raj Kamal Chaudhary, no action has been taken,” he said.
Dr Cheema and Mr Kler also accused the AAP government of pressuring officials to delete votes to benefit its candidates. They claimed there were widespread reports of voter deletions in Ludhiana and Rajpura.
Further alleging procedural lapses, they said ballot boxes were not sealed properly in places such as Majitha. They also referred to an incident in Deon Khera village in Lambi, where SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal reportedly had polling booth gates reopened after they were closed following an alleged attack by AAP workers.
Calling the situation unprecedented, the SAD leaders reiterated their demand for a judicial inquiry to restore public confidence in the electoral process.