Punjab: Local AAP leader shot at; 2 Akali leaders among several booked
Chandigarh, Oct 6: Shiromani Akali Dal leaders Vardev Singh Noni Mann, his brother Nardev Singh Bobby Mann and 15-20 unidentified persons were booked for attempt to murder in connection with an attack on a local AAP leader in Punjab's Fazilka district, police said on Sunday.
Aam Aadmi Party leader Mandeep Singh Brar was shot at outside the office of block development and panchayat officer in Fazilka's Jalalabad area on Saturday, they said.
Brar, who is the candidate for the post of Sarpanch from Muhammad Wala village, sustained a bullet injury in his chest.
He was rushed to the Civil Hospital in Jalalabad but later shifted to Ludhiana.
AAP MLA from Jalalabad Jagdeep Kamboj alleged that Shiromani Akali Dal leader Vardev Singh Noni Mann allegedly fired at Brar.
The FIR was lodged on a complaint filed by Gurpreet Singh, who has filed his nomination for the post of Sarpanch of village Chak Suhelewala.
Gurpreet, in his complaint, alleged that he was the target of the attackers but the bullet hit Brar.
He said Vardev's son Harpinder Singh had also filed his nomination paper from Chak Suhelewala village.
Gurpreet said he had filed objections against the nomination of Harpinder. As a result Akali leaders Vardev Singh and his brother Nardev Singh and their families held a grudge against him.
According to the complainant, the Akali leaders and their supporters on Saturday allegedly pelted stones at them outside the BDPO office.
Gurpreet alleged that Vardev aimed his weapon at him but the bullet hit Brar, who was standing close to him.
According to the FIR, the case has been registered under various sections including 109 (attempt to murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
SAD leader Daljit Singh Cheema condemned the registration of a case against SAD leaders Vardev Mann and Nardev Mann.
He said both these leaders were victims as the nomination papers of their sons had been rejected but the AAP government instead of giving justice to them had filed a criminal case against them.
Elections to gram panchayats in the state will take place on October 15.
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
