Chandigarh, May 19 (IANS) Punjab Bharatiya Janata Party President Sunil Jakhar on Tuesday accused the Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab of undermining democracy by allegedly rejecting nomination papers of the party’s candidates in large numbers during the local body elections.

Jakhar told the media that the Bharatiya Janata Party would move court against the rejection of nomination papers and would not allow the ruling government to “loot the elections through unfair means”.

He said the government had selectively targeted Bharatiya Janata Party candidates by rejecting their nomination papers in constituencies where the party was in a strong position.

According to Jakhar, 21 Bharatiya Janata Party candidates’ nomination papers were rejected in Batala, 10 in Moga, 11 in Barnala, and three in Dhuri, besides similar incidents in several other local body elections.

“These nomination papers have been rejected without any concrete grounds,” he said.

Jakhar claimed that the government was following the same “Saam, daam, dand, bhed” political strategy earlier referred to by Aam Aadmi Party leader Manish Sisodia.

He accused government officials of acting as political agents instead of ensuring free and fair elections.

“The Bharatiya Janata Party is collecting details of officers involved in these actions and will strongly oppose this misuse of government machinery,” he said.

He also cautioned Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann against disregarding democratic norms and traditions.

Referring to the underground electricity cable project being inaugurated by the Chief Minister, Jakhar demanded an investigation into the project’s tendering process.

He alleged that the tender was approved during the tenure of a former power minister who is currently jailed on corruption charges.

Jakhar said several corruption-related matters linked to the government would eventually come to light and alleged that changes in land use cases around Chandigarh were already under the radar of investigative agencies.

Jakhar also highlighted fertiliser subsidies being provided by the Central government under PM Modi.

He said international prices of diammonium phosphate and urea fertilisers had surged sharply due to the Gulf conflict, but the Centre remained committed to ensuring an uninterrupted supply of fertilisers to farmers.

–IANS

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