Chandigarh, December 6 — Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa has petitioned the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking an extension of the last date for filing nominations for the Zila Parishad and Block Samiti elections, saying the December 4 process collapsed under violence and obstruction.
Bajwa said dozens of candidates were “physically stopped” from submitting forms as groups allegedly tore papers, snatched documents and kept Opposition nominees from entering filing centres. “Numerous candidates could not file the nomination papers… there were snatching incidents, illegal detentions and candidates not allowed to reach the venue,” he wrote in his plea, adding that videos showed “people running off with forms” while officials remained absent.
He urged the court to direct the State Election Commission to extend the deadline and appoint independent observers to ensure order in the coming phases.
Advocate Arshpreet Khadial mentioned the matter before the Chief Justice, who listed the petition for hearing on December 8.
