Violence and Allegations Mar Punjab Elections

The Punjab panchayat elections have been marred by violence and allegations of electoral misconduct, with AAP members accused of intimidation and manipulation. Incidents include a former AAP sarpanch in Ferozepur allegedly firing shots to deter nominations and a violent clash in Fazilka involving AAP and Akali Dal supporters, resulting in injuries. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and Congress accuse AAP of using its influence to reject opposition nominations and secure unopposed victories. AAP counters by blaming these parties for past electoral violence and denies the allegations. Amid the chaos, Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa criticizes the Mann administration for failing to maintain law and order, citing the murder of an AAP leader and widespread violence as evidence of governance collapse. The opposition demands intervention from the Election Commission to ensure fair elections, pointing to the alleged misuse of power by AAP leaders in the election process.