A case has been registered against Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal, the newly elected MLA from Phagwara, Punjab for allegedly violating the model code of conduct. The complaint against newly-elected Congress MLA comes just two days after winning the elections.
According to the reports, Congress MLA-elect Dhaliwal had allegedly wrapped a scarf with the party symbol around his neck inside polling booth 184 where he cast his vote. The bureaucrat-turned-politician was booked under Section 130 (Prohibition of canvassing in or near polling stations) of the People’s Representation Act, 1951.
A video of the controversy had become viral across social media platforms. Based on the complaint by BJP candidate Rajesh Bagha, the Election Commission had issued a notice to Dhaliwal and asked the returning officer to conduct an inquiry and send the report.
Based on an inquiry report submitted by Ahmed, the police has now registered a case against Dhaliwal. Phagwara SP Manwinder Singh has also confirmed it.
Congress candidate Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal had defeated BJP candidate Bagha by a margin of 26,116 votes in the recently held Phagwara by-poll. The seat fell vacant after MLA Som Parkash had won Lok Sabha election in May from Hoshiarpur.
In the recently concluded by-election to four assembly seats – Dakha, Phagwara, Jalalabad and Mukerian in Punjab, the Congress won three while the BJP won the Dakha seat.
