The election to the post of Nangal Municipal Council president in Ropar district on Tuesday turned into a major political flashpoint, with the Congress accusing the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government of using state machinery to influence the outcome of the closely contested poll.The allegations triggered protests by Congress workers and led to heavy police deployment around the Municipal Council office.Congress workers, led by former Punjab Assembly Speaker KP Singh, staged a protest outside the Nangal police station, alleging that government agencies were being used to intimidate elected Congress councillors.The protesters raised slogans against the Punjab Government and demanded an impartial inquiry into the alleged harassment of party representatives.Addressing the media, KP Singh alleged that teams of the GST department, state Vigilance Bureau and the Punjab Police carried out raids at the residences of Congress councillors on Monday night, barely a day before the election for the civic body’s top post was to be held.Calling the action a “clear abuse of power”, he alleged that nearly all Congress councillors had been targeted in an attempt to pressure them ahead of the election. “The timing of these raids leaves little doubt that they were intended to influence the election. Democratic institutions are being undermined by misusing government machinery against elected representatives,” he alleged.The Congress leader further claimed that the ruling party was resorting to pressure tactics because it lacked the required numbers to secure the presidency of the Municipal Council on its own.The election has assumed considerable political significance due to the fractured mandate in the 19-member Nangal Municipal Council. The Congress is the single largest party with eight councillors, while the AAP has seven members. The BJP has three councillors and there is one Independent member.Political sources said the ruling AAP enjoys the support of the Independent councillor, taking its effective strength to eight. However, it would still require the backing of at least two more councillors to comfortably secure the president’s post, making every vote crucial in the contest.Responding to the Congress’ allegations, Punjab Education and Local Government Minister Harjot Singh Bains dismissed the charge of political intimidation and said the government would act if any wrongdoing by officials was established.”If Congress councillors have any complaint that government officials are pressurising them, they should come to me and submit their complaint. If the allegations are found to be true, action will be taken against the officials concerned,” Bains said.His remarks sought to counter the Opposition’s charge that the state government was attempting to influence the electoral process through administrative agencies.Meanwhile, security was significantly tightened in and around the Nangal Municipal Council office. Heavy police force was deployed to maintain law and order and prevent any untoward incident during the election process, as workers of different political parties gathered in the town.The election is being keenly watched across the district as the Nangal Municipal Council is regarded as the richest urban local body in Rupnagar district. It also has the largest electorate among all municipal councils in the district, making control of the civic body politically and administratively important ahead of the next Assembly elections.With both the Congress and the ruling AAP claiming the moral high ground and the numerical contest remaining finely balanced, the election has emerged as one of the most closely watched local body battles in Punjab, reflecting the intensifying political rivalry between the two parties.