AAP distributing freebies, ration, cash to lure voters, complains Opposition; Punjab CEO calls for report

Indian Express

4 hours ago

As the campaigning for the high-stake Ludhiana West bypoll drew to a close Tuesday, there were multiple allegations against the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for luring voters with freebies, ration kits, cash etc.
The Opposition parties including the SAD, Congress and BJP alleged that the ruling party was brazenly flouting Model Code of Conduct (MCC) and distributed kits to voters which had freebies including grocery, clothes, notebooks, school bags, stationery etc with the images of AAP candidate Sanjeev Arora and party's symbol 'broom' printed on them.
Punjab's chief electoral officer Sibin C confirmed to The Indian Express that a complaint has been received against AAP for distributing freebies to the voters.
'I have asked for a report from the district election officer (DEO),' he said, adding that he has received complaint from Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) candidate Parupkar Singh Ghumman.
SAD's complaint to the CEO states that AAP's kits with images of Arora were being distributed in the Panjpeer area of Ludhiana which was a 'grave violation of code of conduct.'
The SAD in its complaint to the Election Commission also attached the photos of the kits allegedly distributed by AAP to the voters.
The images show that the kits included a sari/suit, pencil boxes, school bag, notebook etc.
The BJP also filed a written complaint with the Election Commission undersigned by party's office incharge Suneel Bhardwaj which reads: 'The workers of AAP party candidate are distributing money, whisky and other material in the areas of Jawahar Nagar camp, Haibowal, Sunet, Panjpeer road, Barewal, Jawaddi, Ludhiana. Kindly immediate action be taken against them.'
Speaking to The Indian Express, SAD candidate Ghumman said: 'Not only the freebies, AAP is also openly distributing cash. We have got inputs that they are distributing Rs 10k to 20k to each voter in some areas. But let me tell AAP, even if they distribute one lakh to each person, Punjabis are going to reject them this time. I urge voters to accept the money they are giving as it is Punjab's money only which this party has looted from the people. It is good that it is coming back to them.'
Ghumman also wrote on Facebook with an image of the freebies allegedly distributed by AAP: 'From school bags with party branding to even trucks carrying inverters and coolers are roaming in Ludhiana. What should have been a fair contest is turning into a state-sponsored vote buying operation. This is not welfare, this electoral corruption disguised in AAP's colors. Where is Election Commission? Where is accountability? Is this the badlaav that AAP promised?'
Congress candidate Bharat Bhushan Ashu's wife Mamta Ashu said: 'We have videos of how AAP workers are brazenly distributing suits and saris to women voters in areas such as Jawahar Camp, Panjpeer road etc. In areas where people are not accepting such freebies, they are sending police to pressurize and threaten people to vote for the ruling party. They are making a mockery of democracy. All this is happening under the nose of Ludhiana police and district administration. This is how honest this AAP government is.'
AAP spokesperson Neel Garg, while refuting the allegations, said: 'We do not believe in violating model code of conduct. AAP does not need to resort to these things as we are already getting wholehearted support from the people. We have no idea where those photos have come from. We completely deny this allegation.'
Former Punjab chief minister and Congress's Jalandhar MP Charanjit Channi alleged that AAP was also distributing free ration kits which also includes bottles of cooking oil to lure voters.
'We even have registration numbers of the vehicles in which these grocery kits have been dispatched from Khanna and other places', he said.
Mamta Ashu reached some areas where the grocery kits was allegedly being distributed and broadcasted it live on social media till filing of this report late on Tuesday.
The voting for the bypoll is scheduled for June 19 (Wednesday).