Tender Scam Clouds Punjab Panchayat Elections: Printers Cry Foul Over Ballot Paper Rates

Chandigarh (The Uttam Hindu): A major controversy has erupted over the tender floated for the printing of ballot papers for the upcoming Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti Elections 2025 in Punjab, with allegations of manipulation and favoritism threatening to snowball into a full-blown scandal.

The Printers Association of Chandigarh and Punjab has written to the State Election Commissioner, alleging that the tender has been deliberately framed with “tailor-made pre-bid conditions” to suit a select group of printers. In their complaint, they claim that these conditions were altered twice via corrigendum which is an unusual move only to accommodate a few favoured bidders.

Citing past irregularities, the printers pointed out that during the Panchayat Elections 2024, rates varied wildly across districts from as low as 90 paisa per ballot to as high as Rs.3.25. They argue that while Panchayat ballots were smaller in volume and more varied in design (justifying higher rates), the upcoming Zila Parishad ballots are uniform and required in much larger quantities, which should significantly reduce printing costs.

Instead, the printers warn, the new tender is poised to become a “pool tender,” artificially inflating prices to four to five times the market rate, draining crores from the state exchequer at a time when Punjab is already battling a financial crunch.

“We are ready to print the entire requirement for all districts at just Rs.1.10 per ballot. The inflated tender is nothing but a conspiracy between certain officers and select printers to loot public money,” the Association charged.

The complaint further notes that despite the department already securing a deposit of Rs.10 lakh from bidders ensuring seriousness and accountability the pre-bid conditions have been inserted merely to eliminate fair competition and ensure a monopoly.

The Association has demanded the immediate cancellation of the tender and issuance of a fresh one with transparent and reasonable conditions to ensure healthy competition and safeguard public funds.

Copies of the complaint have also been marked to the Chief Secretary, Chief Vigilance Commissioner, Minister of Panchayati Raj and even the Chief Minister of Punjab, raising the political stakes of the issue.

Unless corrective action is taken swiftly, the controversy threatens to overshadow the very credibility of Punjab’s local body elections. Uttam Hindu tried to contact officials at the office of the State Election Commissioner for their response, but despite repeated attempts, the calls went unanswered.