SAD candidate violates poll code

Sanjay Bumbroo

Tribune News Service

Fatehgarh Sahib, January 16

Akali Dal’s Fatehgarh Sahib nominee Didar Singh Bhatti violated the model code of conduct when he entered the SDM’s office with 20 of his supporters to file nomination here today.

Only four supporters are allowed to accompany a candidate at the time filling nominations.

In spite of a warning by SDM Navraj Singh Brar, the supporters did not leave the office. He said the incident had been caught on film; the video would be forwarded to the state election authorities. “The election authorities will serve a notice on the SAD candidate for violating the model code of conduct,” Brar said.

Bhatti’s son Gurvinder Singh Bhatti filed nomination as a covering candidate for his father.

Bhatti had the won the elections in 2007, defeating three-time MLA Dr Harbans Lal of the Congress. When the SAD denied him the ticket in 2012, he contested as a PPP candidate and lost to Congress’ Kuljit Singh Nagra.

AAP nominee refuses security 

In Bassi Pathana, two candidates each from the Congress and AAP, and one from the BSP filed their nominations today. They are Congress’ Gurpreet Singh GP and his wife Gurpreet Kaur, AAP's Santokh Singh Salana and Sukhdev Singh, and BSP’s Mohinder Singh Jattana. Salana submitted an affidavit, refusing to accept security during campaigning. “I am following party rules of not accepting security guards to be provided by the Election Commission during elections,” he said. In Amloh, Ram Singh of the BSP and Gurjinder Singh of the Jai Jawan Jai Kisan Party filed their nomination. Navab Ali filed his nomination as an Independent.