SAD complains before CEC; accuses CEO of "soft peddling"

Shiromani Akali Dal has lodged a complained before chief election commissioner SY Quraishi against chief electoral officer, Punjab Kusumjit Kaur Sidhu for "soft peddling" of the complaints filed by SAD against Congress party and showing "promptitude and inventiveness" on the complaints filed by the Congress.

In a complaint sent on Monday, Shiromani Akali Dal's legal cell president Harpreet Singh Brar alleged that PPCC president Capt. Amarinder Singh and CEO Punjab Kusumjit Kaur Sidhu belongs to the same village, Mehraj in district Bathinda.

"It may be a coincidence but the aforementioned conspicuous facts indicating bias constrained the party to bring the matter to your kind notice in order to maintain level playing field in these elections," added Brar. On being contacted Kusumjit Sidhu refused to comment.

"The CEO is yet to take any tangible action against senior officers on the complaints made by SAD. On the other hand, SAD candidate from Bholath Jagir Kaur, her daughter and her son-in-law, have been booked in the most hasty and repressive manner under criminal cases," says the complaint.

"SAD has always complied with model code of conduct in letter and spirit, and always appreciated and cooperated with the Election Commission of India in their earnest efforts to hold free, fair and peaceful elections in Punjab, but recent developments compelled the party to seek your kind indulgence in order to maintain level playing field in these elections," further adds the complaint.

Despite a compliant redressal mechanism proposed by election of India, but the electoral office in Punjab is not set up a website for the complaint registration and action taken report has not been provided in Punjab.

"The party has made several complaints. However, neither any action has been taken nor any action taken report as envisaged in complaint redressal mechanism has been provided," adds Brar giving a long list of instances and comparison indicating apparent bias.

"CEO Punjab quickly takes a decision to transfer officers on the complaints filed by Congress which is often without any specifics and material requiring the intervention of CEO," alleges complaint by SAD.