CHANDIGARH, Dec 13— A day before the Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday accused the Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal of “bellyaching” after sensing defeat in the rural polls.
Addressing the media, Mann rejected allegations of misuse of official machinery and questioned the opposition’s claims about irregularities in the voting process.
“The man who was chief minister for 111 days is making irresponsible statements that 100 pre-printed ballot papers are being used in each constituency,” Mann said, referring to Congress leaders. “He has sensed defeat and is therefore making baseless allegations.”
Mann also mocked the Congress over the alleged “Rs 500 crore for chief ministership” controversy. “It would do him good if he concentrated on arranging the money to get the chief ministership or two deputy chief minister berths,” he said.
Dismissing claims of rigging, Mann pointed to the large number of opposition candidates in the fray. “If the ruling party was misusing official machinery, why would there be 2,433 Congress and 1,814 Akali candidates contesting Panchayat Samiti polls?” he asked, adding that several Congress and Independent candidates had already been elected unopposed.
The chief minister said the Aam Aadmi Party had fielded candidates on all seats, while rival parties failed to contest many constituencies.
