Panchayat wards: Bhattal cries foul

Former Punjab chief minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal on Sunday alleged that the whole process of demarcation of wards for the panchayat elections was being politicised at the behest of the SAD-BJP government.

Former Punjab chief minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal on Sunday alleged that the whole process of demarcation of wards for the panchayat elections was being politicised at the behest of the SAD-BJP government.

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Demanding that the State Election Commission adopt a proper demarcation procedure, Bhattal said, "The demarcation of wards is being done in accordance with the wishes of the 'halqa' (area) incharge concerned of the SAD."

"The only thing being ensured is that by hook or crook, there should be an Akali panchayat," the Lehragaga MLA said in a statement here.

While the norms say there should be 190 votes in each ward, some wards have 124 votes and others have as high as 275, she claimed.