This Article is From Feb 19, 2022

Arvind Kejriwal, CS Channi, Sukhbir Badal Face Poll Code Violation Cases

Punjab votes tomorrow to elect a new government.

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Aam Aadmi Party's Arvind Kejriwal, Akali Dal's Sukhbir Badal and Congress' Charanjit Channi - the three key leaders in Punjab - have been charged with poll code violation, a day before the state votes for a new government.

A police case has been filed against Arvind Kejriwal and his his party for a video, which the poll body says makes "false and frivolous allegations against other parties" and violates the model code of conduct.

"It is submitted that Model Code of Conduct has been enforced in the State of Punjab. In the light of MCC no party can put any objectionable videos targeting particular leader of any prevalent handles on internet," said the chief electoral officer in Punjab.

The complaint against the Delhi Chief Minister, whose party is contesting the polls in the state, was made by Akali Dal's vice president Arshdeep Singh, who raised objections to the video. The party said the video "intended to malign the image of Shiromani Akali Dal and other political parties in the eyes of general public".

In a counter complaint by the AAP, Sukhbir Badal has been charged by the poll body for violating the model code of conduct.

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The AAP complaint had alleged that Sukhbir Badal had circulated a video from his official Facebook page which "consist of his vote appeal with an intent to misguide voters" after the campaigning period had ended.

Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi was also charged for violating the poll code.

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Mr Channi had visited a temple in Manasa and then carried out a door-to-door campaign in the area yesterday evening, after the campaigning had come to an end.

The incumbent Congress government faces competition from the Akali Dal and the Aam Aadmi Party. The BJP is fighting the polls in alliance with Amarinder Singh's Punjab Lok Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal (Samyukta). Samyukta Samaj Morcha, an political front of various farmer bodies, is also contesting the polls.

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The votes will be counted on March 10, along with four other states. 

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