Chandigarh, May 17 (IANS) The Punjab Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) unit on Sunday submitted a complaint to the state Election Commission and the Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav, seeking deferment of the Mudki Municipal Council elections in Ferozepur district, owing to large-scale violence, intimidation, obstruction in filing nomination papers and partisan misuse of police machinery.

In the complaint submitted by BJP office Secretary Suneel Dutt Bhardwaj, the party alleged that Opposition candidates, including BJP candidates, were threatened, assaulted and unlawfully prevented from filing nomination papers by anti-social elements allegedly supporting the ruling Aam Aadmi Party.

The BJP said on May 16, armed supporters led by Gurpreet Singh Sekhon, allegedly created terror around the nomination centre at Mudki, resulting in injuries to several candidates and supporters.

The party also alleged that local police officials remained mute spectators and failed to ensure a free and fair nomination process.

The complaint also highlighted that first information report (FIR) was registered dated May 17 only after strong public protest and named around 300 unknown people in connection with violence and obstruction near the nomination centre.

The BJP has also demanded immediate removal and transfer of the officials concerned in Ferozepur, along with an independent inquiry into the entire incident.

The party also sought adequate security for candidates, strict action against those responsible and an opportunity for candidates allegedly prevented from filing nominations.

The BJP said democracy cannot function in an atmosphere of fear, intimidation and violence and asserted that the integrity of the electoral process must be protected at all costs.

The BJP also urged the Election Commission to postpone the elections until conditions conducive to free and fair elections are restored in Mudki.

–IANS

vg/khz