BJP Punjab delegation meets State Election Commissioner, seeks impartial conduct and full videography of Zila Parishad, Panchayat Samiti Polls
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, December 3, 2025:A delegation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Punjab, led by Dr. Jagmohan Singh Raju (Retd. IAS), General Secretary of BJP Punjab, met the State Election Commissioner on Wednesday and submitted a formal letter demanding strict measures to ensure free, fair, and unbiased conduct of the upcoming Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections.
The letter, written by BJP Punjab Working President Ashwani Sharma, called for mandatory videography of the entire election process, citing concerns over alleged misuse of state machinery by the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government.
The delegation included State Vice President Dr. Subhash Sharma, Jasmine Sandhewalia, State Secretary Sanjeev Khanna, Bhanu Pratap, State Co-Cashier Sukwinder Singh Goldy, Legal Cell Convenor N.K. Verma, State Media Head Vineet Joshi, and senior leaders including Bibi Param Pal Kaur and former DGP Paramdeep Singh Gill.
In the letter, Ashwani Sharma expressed “serious concern” over reports that certain Returning Officers and police officials were allegedly working under the influence of the state government. The BJP claimed that opposition candidates were being obstructed while attempting to file nomination papers.
Sharma also referred to past incidents during local body polls where officials allegedly acted at the ruling party’s behest. A recent case involving BJP Majri Mandal President Gurpreet Singh was highlighted, wherein SHO Ajay Parocha allegedly threatened BJP candidates with arrest if they tried to file nominations.
The delegation urged the Election Commission to mandate videography of all stages of the election—nomination, scrutiny, withdrawal, polling, counting, and declaration of results. According to the BJP, comprehensive video documentation would help ensure transparency, prevent misuse of authority, and provide verifiable evidence in case of disputes.
The BJP also requested that Panchayat Samiti elections for Dera Bassi, Kharar, and Majri be conducted simultaneously with the Mohali Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti polls. The party said this would avoid unnecessary administrative burden, financial expenditure, and repeated disruption of district functioning.
The party asserted that democratic integrity cannot be compromised by intimidation or misuse of institutions. It urged the Commission to ensure complete neutrality of officials and smooth, transparent elections across Punjab.