Bathinda: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) clinched the chairperson’s post in the Baghapurana Block Samiti elections held on Saturday at the Moga deputy commissioner’s office. The election was held under the supervision of the district administration, in the presence of a Punjab and Haryana High Court appointed observer.AAP candidate Sarabjit Kaur was elected chairperson after securing 14 votes, defeating the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) nominee, who received 12 votes. The election result came as a setback for the Akali Dal, which claimed it enjoyed a clear majority in the block samiti.The Congress, despite having only three members in the 25-member house, succeeded in getting its nominee Charanjit Kaur elected as vice-chairperson. Congress support proved crucial for AAP in the chairperson’s election. Charanjit Kaur’s election as vice-chairperson followed the Congress extending support to the AAP candidate for the top post.Baghapurana Block Samiti comprises 25 elected members, with the local MLA being counted as the 26th member. Of 25 elected members, the Shiromani Akali Dal had 13, AAP had eight, Congress three, while one member was elected as an independent candidate.The Akali Dal had earlier claimed that it had the support of all its 13 members and backing from at least two Congress members. However, with only 12 votes, the party accused Congress members of double-crossing it and said it would examine how cross-voting occurred.During the election process, Akali Dal members raised objections to the MLA being allowed to participate in the voting. Deputy commissioner Sagar Setia, however, cited a state govt letter and notification dated March 5, 2026, issued in furtherance of earlier communications from 2013 and 2019, which allow MLAs to cast their votes in block samiti elections. The DC asked Akali Dal members to produce any stay order against the notification. As no such order was produced, the MLA was permitted to vote, while the objection was formally recorded in the proceedings.Speaking to Times of India, DC Sagar Setia said the election was conducted as per the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court and in the presence of a court-appointed observer. He said that for the post of chairperson, the result was 14-12, while the vice-chairperson election result stood at 15-9, with two votes declared invalid. He added that objections raised by Akali Dal members regarding the MLA’s voting rights were duly noted.The elections followed earlier unrest that had disrupted the process on March 17, when protests and law and order concerns led to the election remaining incomplete. Subsequently, 15 members, including 13 from the Shiromani Akali Dal, approached the Punjab and Haryana high court seeking fresh elections.Meanwhile, Baghapurana SDM Babandeep Singh Walia wrote to the Punjab chief secretary on March 22, accusing Moga DC Sagar Setia of harassment and intimidation, alleging pressure to declare results in favour of particular candidates. The high court, while taking note of the letter, expressed displeasure and ordered that fresh election be conducted on March 28 under the supervision of the deputy commissioner, with an advocate appointed as observer.Commenting on the outcome, Baghapurana MLA Amritpal Singh Sukhanand said his side was confident about the majority from the beginning and accused the Akali Dal of making false allegations of high-handedness. He said the result was evident to all as polling was conducted in the presence of a court-appointed observer.Akali leader Tirath Singh Mahla maintained that the party’s 13 members remained united even after the election. He said it would be seen who indulged in cross-voting. Mahla claimed that the Akali Dal had proposed Congress leader Charanjit Kaur for the vice chairperson’s post and that Akali members supported her, but alleged that Congress members voted for the AAP nominee for chairperson despite receiving Akali support during the vice chairperson election. AAP— AAP candidate Sarabjit Kaur secured 14 votes, defeating SAD nominee who got 12.–Benefited from Congress support during the chairperson election –Victory came in a court-supervised election held in the presence of a High Court–appointed observer –AAP had eight elected members in the 25-member block samiti.Congress–Despite having only three members, Congress succeeded in winning the vice-chairperson’s post –Charanjit Kaur of Congress was elected vice-chairperson –Played a decisive role by supporting AAP in the chairperson election –Accused by SAD of cross-voting for AAP’s chairperson candidate despite receiving Akali support for vice-chair Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)–Entered the election claiming majority with 13 elected members –Could secure only 12 votes in chairperson election, leading to defeat — Raised objection to MLA being allowed to vote, but failed to produce any court stay –Accused Congress members of double-crossing and said it would probe MSID:: 129863028 413 |
