Figure it out: three results in 3 countings in Mohali MC polls

Three contrary results of a single election cast doubts over the fairness of the entire process and also raise a question,which result is right?

The other interesting fact is the speedy disposal of Kulwant’s election petition filed in September 2006.

Mohali Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Jaspal Mittal,while exercising powers of an Election Tribunal,disposed of the over three-year-old matter in just three days after Gurnam Bindra withdrew his petition from the Punjab and Haryana High Court,which had since July,2007,stayed the proceedings.

More surprisingly,Gurnam’s counsel raised no objection over the second recounting,which reversed the 2006 election result,leaving Gurnam unseated.

Terming it to be the murder of democracy,local Congress MLA Balbir Sidhu on Friday requested the Punjab and Haryana High Court to take suo motu cognisance of the matter and summon the records to verify how three different results of a single election were declared.

“The records were tampered with and no proper procedure was adopted for recounting,” alleged Sidhu,demanding action against officials concerned. “Deciding the petition without even summoning the polling and counting officials and agents besides the Returning Officer,who had declared Gurnam winner,is like an ex-parte decision,” said Sidhu.

Attributing Gurnam’s U-turn to pressures that forced him to withdraw his petition,Sidhu said,“We don’t even know where Gurnam is ever since he withdrew his petition.” Apprehending that Gurnam was kept somewhere in wrongful confinement,Sidhu said the Congress would fight legal and political battle to seek quashing of Kulwant’s election.

Refuting the charges as baseless,Kulwant accused the Congress leaders of “manipulating” his defeat in 2006. “I was deprived of my constitutional right for over three years due to the illegal counting in 2006,” said Kulwant,adding he was contemplating legal action against officials responsible for his “false defeat”.

CHANGING AFFILIATIONS
Kulwant Singh was earlier known for his proximity to then Minister Chaudhary Jagjit Singh and then Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh,but much to his surprise,he “lost” civic elections during the previous Congress regime. Now,this real estate developer is considered close to the ruling SAD,which is believed to be the main force behind his “victory”. “How the recounting and his defeat could be illegal when Kulwant was so close to then Congress government,” said Sidhu,accusing Kulwant of changing affiliations for personal gains,a charge denied by Kulwant.

Gurnam’s role
Since July 2006,Gurnam Bindra worked as the councillor of Ward 15. Now when he stands unseated what will be the fate of MC proceedings,in which he had participated as the councillor,and several other works he had undertaken in the capacity? A senior official said all such proceedings and works are liable to be declared null and void.Officials,who conducted wrong counting,should be punished to restore public faith in democratic exercise,said legal experts.