Patiala: The last day of filing nomination papers for MC elections on Tuesday was marred by clashes and tearing of documents. Several candidates of BJP and Congress accused AAP workers of creating a ruckus and preventing them from filing nominations.
They said police were mute spectators and instead detained nominees of opposition parties. On Thursday, BJP leaders claimed that either nomination papers of around 25 candidates were torn or they were not allowed to file nominations and were beaten up.
Congress claimed that only 20 of its 60 candidates could file nominations. Naresh Kumar Duggal, Patiala Congress president, said the remaining 40 candidates were either detained, beaten up, or their nominations were torn by AAP workers.
Duggal termed the act murder of democracy.
Pritpal Singh Baliawal, BJP spokesperson, said nomination papers of 20-25 candidates out of a total of 60 were torn, while four candidates were detained by police. He said AAP supporters beat up their candidates while the police remained mute spectators.
BJP candidate Varun Sharma, who wanted to file nomination from Ward 46, said he was heckled and his nomination papers torn. He said nearly 30 BJP candidates were not allowed to file nominations. Punjab BJP Mahila Morcha president Jai Inder Kaur was also present with her mother and former Patiala MP Preneet Kaur on the occasion, and staged a protest.
On the other hand, AAP Patiala urban president Tejinder Mehta, who is contesting from ward 34, alleged that BJP goons stood outside the DC complex and created ruckus, accusing them of assaulting AAP workers too Patiala MLA Ajit Pal Singh Kohli accused BJP members of snatching nomination papers of three AAP candidates in wards falling under Patiala (I), but they managed to get another copy. He said AAP candidates filed nominations successfully in 32 seats under Patiala (Urban). Kohli said a total of 575 NOCs were cleared for 60 wards in Patiala, calling it a sign of free and fair elections.
Anuprita Johal, additional district election officer of Patiala, said reports had been sought from returning officers. She said so far, no police case had been filed.