Chandigarh: Jagatpura election postponed due to ‘discrepancies’ in voter list

Chandigarh: The state election commission has postponed the election to Jagatpura gram panchayat in Mohali subdivision. According to the orders, the Mohali SDM-cum-election registration officer has been directed to prepare a fresh voter list for Jagatpura by excluding voters of Guru Nanak colony in accordance with the law. “Since the schedule for general gram panchayat elections in the state has already been announced, and polling is scheduled to be held on October 15, the voter list of gram panchayat Jagatpura will be corrected by the SDM after the completion of the election process. All processes for filing nominations are discontinued with immediate effect,” the order said.

Residents expressed relief over the decision, saying the existing list had only 900 names, who were natives of the village, while the remaining 5,500 voters, which include voters from three colonies, were migrant workers. “These three colonies were arbitrarily included in the village despite several objections,” they said. The order also said that these elections will not be held during the general Gram Panchayat elections but will be separately notified by the commission later after the formalities are completed and the DC will ensure it. Congress leader Balbir Singh Sidhu said, “These elections are being held arbitrarily. High Court orders are being violated. Sarpanch and Panch candidates in Papri, Kurada and Kuradi are accused of encroaching on panchayat land. During the investigation process, AAP officials are roaming freely while the police are not allowing others to enter.”