Supreme Court Orders Re-Election in 50 Punjab Municipal Wards Amidst Political Turmoil

New Delhi, October 9: The Supreme Court has ordered the cancellation of elections in 50 municipal wards in Punjab, leading to a renewed political battle. Dr. Alka Gurjar, a Rajya Sabha MP from Rajasthan and co-in-charge of the Punjab BJP, has intensified her criticism of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) following this ruling. She took to social media to declare that the court’s decision serves as a “stinging slap” to AAP and its leader, Arvind Kejriwal, who have often accused others of vote theft.

“The Supreme Court has confirmed that the real vote thieves are AAP and Kejriwal!” stated Dr. Gurjar.

As a co-in-charge of the Punjab BJP, Dr. Gurjar’s involvement in this matter is significant. She has been vocal on behalf of the party regarding the Supreme Court’s decision.

The court’s ruling affects elections in 28 wards of Patiala and 22 wards in Moga, totaling 50 wards. The Supreme Court’s directive came after an investigative report by retired Justice Nirmaljeet Kaur, which found the elections held in December 2024 to be tainted.

What Did the Supreme Court Actually Order?

The Supreme Court’s order, issued on September 28, 2026, mandates that elections in these 50 wards be conducted again within six weeks. The affected wards include 28 from Patiala and 22 from Moga, specifically 7 from Dharmkot and all 15 from Baghapurana.

The decision was made by a bench led by Chief Justice Suryakant, based on findings from the inquiry that highlighted irregularities in the electoral process.

Order Summary:
– Order Date: September 28, 2026
– Bench: Led by Chief Justice Suryakant
– Total Wards: 50 — 28 from Patiala, 22 from Moga
– Moga Breakdown: 7 from Dharmkot + 15 from Baghapurana
– Basis: Report by retired Justice Nirmaljeet Kaur
– Timeline: Re-elections to be held within six weeks

Monitoring Committee to Oversee Re-Elections

The court has instructed the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court to establish a monitoring committee within a week. This committee will include at least one retired judge and will oversee the entire electoral process from notification to results. The schedule for the re-elections will be announced after the committee is formed.

Additionally, two or three senior advocates from the High Court Bar will be appointed as observers, and video recordings will be made during the nomination, scrutiny, symbol allocation, and voting processes. Complaints regarding any disruption during the process can be reported to the monitoring committee.

Petitioners Represent Various Parties

It is noteworthy that the petitioners who approached the court were not solely from the BJP; they represented various national and regional parties. They alleged that members of the ruling party, along with police personnel, obstructed them from submitting nomination papers, resorting to violence and confiscating their documents.

The court’s decision to annul the elections was based on an independent investigation into these allegations, which concluded that the electoral process was indeed compromised. The Aam Aadmi Party has yet to respond to this ruling.

Vote Theft Debate Intensifies in Rajasthan

The issue of “vote theft” is also heating up in Rajasthan’s political landscape. The Congress party continues to raise questions against the Election Commission and the BJP, while the latter has consistently denied these allegations. Recently, state president Madan Rathore criticized Congress over the vote theft claims, while former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot questioned the role of the Election Commission.

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Ganpat Singh Chouhan: My name is Ganpat Singh Choughan. I am an experienced content writer with 7 years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.