Punjab: Huge chaos was witnessed at several Block Development and Panchayat Offices (BDPOs) on the last day of filing nominations for panchayat elections. Five Congress workers were injured in firing by rivals at Naushera Pannuan in Tarn Taran. Frustrated candidates in Chogawan block forcibly entered the office and clashed with staff after they were unable to file nominations after standing in long queues till 6 pm. Hundreds of candidates in Majitha alleged mismanagement and raised slogans, while sarpanch and panch candidates in Raiya block staged a protest against the government.
Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia visited the BDPO office in Majitha and accused the government of deliberately preventing opposition candidates from filing nominations. Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Raja Waring criticised the lack of proper arrangements and condemned the AAP government’s failure to maintain order. Nominations were filed till 6.30 pm in various blocks despite the Election Commission’s direction to conclude the process by 3 pm.
