In a significant development ahead of the upcoming local body elections in Punjab, the state Congress unit has raised a serious alarm over the alleged non-issuance of crucial certificates to its candidates. Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president, Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, has urgently sought the intervention of the Punjab Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), accusing government officials of deliberately obstructing the nomination process.
Allegations of Deliberate Obstruction
In a formal letter addressed to the state's top election official, Warring presented a grave charge. He stated that the officials responsible for issuing No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) to Congress candidates contesting the Zila Parishad and Block Parishad elections are either significantly delaying the process or outright denying the certificates. Warring emphasized that with the nomination process already underway and the last date for filing papers fast approaching, this creates an unfair hurdle for his party's nominees.
"The process of filing the nomination papers has started and the last date is close by, but the NOCs are not being issued by the officials concerned," Warring highlighted in his communication. He framed this not as administrative inefficiency but as a calculated move, stating it appears to be a deliberate design to deny the NOCs to Congress candidates.
Officials Unavailable, Candidates in Limbo
Revealing the ground-level chaos, the Punjab Congress president disclosed that the concerned officials are conspicuously unavailable across the state. "I have been flooded with messages and phone calls about this problem that the officials authorised to issue the NOCs are not available," Warring said, indicating a widespread issue affecting candidates in multiple districts.
Warring extended his suspicion beyond his own party, suggesting that the alleged tactic might be aimed at all opposition candidates, potentially barring them from contesting the grassroots-level elections. This, he argued, strikes at the heart of democratic participation.
Call for Immediate CEO Action
Labeling the situation a gross violation of the fair electoral process, the Congress leader's letter is a direct appeal for immediate rectification. He has requested the Chief Electoral Officer to issue clear and forceful instructions to all concerned officials to resume their duties without delay and to issue the pending NOCs forthwith.
The appeal underscores the time-sensitive nature of the problem, as any further delay could effectively disqualify potential candidates from entering the electoral fray. The ball is now in the court of the Punjab CEO's office to investigate the claims and ensure a level playing field for all political parties in the ongoing local body elections.
