AAP Accused of Misusing Government Schemes to Sway Local Body Elections/Tikshan Sood Hoshiarpur / Daljeet Ajnoha/May 26

AAP Accused of Misusing Government Schemes to Sway Local Body Elections/Tikshan Sood
Hoshiarpur / Daljeet Ajnoha/May 26
Former cabinet minister and senior BJP leader Tikshan Sood has accused the Aam Aadmi Party of misusing government schemes and machinery during municipal and council elections. Sood claimed the AAP is panic-stricken over a possible defeat in the local body polls and is willing to adopt any means — including bribery and coercion — to secure victory and protect its reputation.
He alleged that despite the model code of conduct being in force across Punjab for local body elections, AAP legislators are flouting the rules by distributing government provisions such as flour, lentils, and sugar under their ration schemes in various neighbourhoods, often bringing along probable party candidates. Sood said one such event was held today at a depot in Railway Mandi.
Sood further charged that the Election Commission, which is entrusted with ensuring free and fair elections, has failed to act due to government pressure. “The groundwork for securing votes in Hoshiarpur has already been completed; only the formal election schedule remains to be announced,” he said.
Calling the distribution of government benefits by sitting MLAs during the election period a blatant violation of democracy and the model code of conduct, Tikshan Sood demanded immediate action to stop AAP leaders from enticing voters with government schemes so that impartial elections can be held.