Harbans Singh Gill and Gurnetar Singh, BDPOs of Kharar and Majri, respectively, told ENS that 2,641 persons -- 1,875 for the post of panch and 766 for the post of sarpanch -- have filed their nominations in Kharar block, while 1,741 persons -- 1,297 for panch and 444 for sarpanch -- have filed their nomination papers in Majri Block.

There are 154 panchayats in Kharar and 105 in the Majri Block. The BDPO office was the only single centre set up by the district administration here, where people from 154 villages gathered to file their nomination papers. It was alleged that the forms required for filing the nominations were not available at the centre, but photo copies were being sold outside between Rs 5 and 10 per copy. People complained that there was no arrangement to fill up and attest the forms at the centre.

The general secretary of the Ghar Bachao Committee, who called the Chandigarh Newsline on phone, said there was no systematic work at the BDPO office.