Patiala MP Dharamvira Gandhi demands cancellation of MC polls, alleges mass rigging

Gandhi said the congress party exhibited “utter disrespect” to democratic ethos and principles by resorting to “mass rigging” and coercion in civic body polls on Sunday.

Lok Sabha member from Patiala Dr Dharamvira Gandhi asked the Punjab election commission to ‘immediately’ cancel Patiala municipal corporation election and demanded fresh elections under the supervision of some central agency. (Follow live updates HERE)

Lok Sabha member from Patiala Dr Dharamvira Gandhi (HT File)

Gandhi said the congress party exhibited “utter disrespect” to democratic ethos and principles by resorting to “mass rigging” and coercion in civic body polls on Sunday.

“The 2017 MC polls are a big blow to democracy and democratic institutions. By resorting to such methods, the political parties are only eroding the already fast eluding faith of masses of people in democracy,” Gandhi said.

He accused the SAD of shedding crocodile tears over the “murder of democracy” and reminded them of resorting to same methods during the civic body elections of 2007 and 2012.

Gandhi said the local body elections are not only the basic units of democracy and governance, but basic schools also, where not only citizens, the budding leaders and especially the youth, learn the fundamentals of democracy.