Panchayat polls: Notice to DC for roster change bid

FEROZEPUR: The state election commission (SEC) has issued a notice to the Ferozepur deputy commissioner-cum-district election officer for attempting to change the previous roster of reserved panchayats. The officer has been asked to explain why he sought to change the reserved seats after the model code of conduct for panchayat elections had already come into force.

According to information, notice has been issued to the district election officer after he issued a corrigendum to notifications classifying the general and the reserved category panchayats. There has been a political controversy over changes by classifying the general category panchayats (notified before the poll announcement) to reserved category and vice versa, to suit the wishes leaders of the area.

E lections to 13,278 panchayats in the state are scheduled for December 30, and the model code of conduct for the elections came into force on December 7.

Meanwhile, with the nomination date for filing papers for the panchayat elections coming nearer, rift between the Congress leaders over ticket distribution has widened with the party factions levelling serious charges of corruption against each other.