Dakha bypoll: BSP candidate’s nomination rejected, to contest as independent
The byelection from Dakha assembly constituency is scheduled on October 21, 2019.
During the scrutiny of nomination papers on Tuesday, the nomination papers of five candidates including that of Baldev Singh, who had submitted his nomenclature from the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) on Monday, were rejected. Four other candidates whose papers were rejected were the covering candidates of Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal, Lok Insaf Party and Aam Aadmi Party candidates.
Returning officer Amrinder Singh Malhi said that Baldev Singh, who had filed his nomination papers as a candidate of Bahujan Samaj Party yesterday, has been considered as an independent candidate.
He added that Form-A submitted by the candidate representing BSP was incomplete, resulting in the rejection.
However, as the candidate has 10 proposers, he can contest as an independent as per rules.
Following the row over Phagwara seat, the candidates of BSP and LIP, who are in an alliance, had filed their nominations papers from Dakha and Phagwara constituency separately on Monday. Leaders of both parties had come at loggerheads after LIP announced its candidate from Phagwara constituency, the seat which, as per the BSP leaders, was reserved for them.
When contacted, BSP’s district president Pargan Bilga said they are very much part of Punjab Democratic Alliance and will still support the independent candidate.
The candidates who are now in fray for the Dakha bypolls after scrutiny of nomination papers are Sandeep Singh Sandhu from Congress party, Manpreet Singh Ayali from Shiromani Akali Dal, Amandeep Singh Mohi from Aam Aadmi Party, Sukhdev Singh from Lok Insaaf Party, Simrandeep Singh from Aapna Punjab Party, Joginder Singh from Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), Gurjit Singh from National Justice Party, Harbans Singh, Baldev Singh, Jai Parkash Jain and Gurdeep Singh Kahlon as Independent candidates.
The byelection from Dakha assembly constituency is scheduled on October 21, 2019.
District election officer Pradeep Kumar Agrawal informed that the withdrawal of nominations can be done till October 3, 2019.