According to the State Election Commission, voting began at 8 a.m. and continued till 5 p.m.
Image: IANS
Punjab recorded 31.6 per cent polling till noon in elections to eight Municipal Corporations, 75 Municipal Councils and 20 Nagar Panchayats, even as several districts witnessed clashes, allegations of bogus voting and political confrontations during the polling process on Tuesday.
According to the State Election Commission, voting began at 8 a.m. and continued till 5 p.m. Polling is being conducted through ballot papers instead of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). A total of 7,555 candidates are in the fray across the state.
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Security was tightened across Punjab with nearly 35,000 police personnel deployed to ensure peaceful polling. Authorities also imposed restrictions on carrying several items inside polling stations, including switched-off mobile phones. A public holiday was declared in the state, while liquor sales remained prohibited during the voting period.
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Tension surfaced at several locations during polling. In Ludhiana’s Raikot, Congress alleged that supporters of AAP MLA Hakam Thekedar attacked Congress candidate Jagdev Singh Jagga from Ward No. 4 during the municipal council elections. Jagga sustained serious injuries and was first admitted to a local hospital before being referred to Ludhiana’s DMC Hospital after his condition deteriorated.
Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring strongly condemned the incident, alleging that the attack reflected a complete collapse of law and order under the Bhagwant Mann-led government. He demanded the immediate arrest of those involved and strict action against the perpetrators.
In Khanna, a heated argument broke out between Congress and AAP supporters in Ward No. 15 soon after voting began. Police personnel stationed at the polling booth intervened promptly and brought the situation under control, warning both groups against disrupting the electoral process.
In Moga’s Ward No. 41, Congress and AAP supporters clashed outside a polling booth over the issue of supporters gathering near the voting centre. Police later dispersed the crowd to prevent escalation.
A similar controversy erupted in Barnala’s Ward No. 33, where supporters of AAP candidate Rita Goyal and Independent candidate Urmila Devi accused each other of facilitating fake voting. Heavy police deployment was made at the polling centre after tensions escalated.
Another violent incident was reported from Barnala, where Jasvir Singh, husband of BJP candidate Deepinder Kaur, alleged that he was attacked after objecting to alleged bogus voting by outsiders linked to AAP. He claimed his turban was removed, and he was assaulted with a sharp-edged weapon. He further alleged that his wife and supporters were also manhandled during the altercation.
In Mansa’s Ward No. 18, commotion broke out after a candidate’s bouncer allegedly entered a polling booth carrying a pistol. Residents objected and recorded videos of the incident, following which police removed the individual from the polling station.
Meanwhile, in Faridkot, AAP MLA Gurditt Singh Sekhon accused BJP leaders of misusing an Army school bus to transport voters to polling booths. The allegation triggered a confrontation between AAP workers and BJP leaders on the road. A video of the incident surfaced online showing intense sloganeering and arguments between both sides near the parked bus.
Sekhon also alleged that Shiromani Akali Dal workers were distributing money to voters outside a polling station in Ward No. 18 in Faridkot.
In Abohar, police detained four youths travelling in a Haryana-registered vehicle bearing an “NSUI Hanumangarh” nameplate during polling. The vehicle, numbered HR 12 Y 3683, was seized after the occupants reportedly failed to provide a satisfactory explanation regarding their presence in the area.
Police officials, including DIG Harpreet Singh and SP Aswant Singh, intercepted the vehicle during patrolling near Old Fazilka Road. SP Aswant Singh said the youths were being questioned to ascertain their purpose and whether they were authorised voters in the constituency.
Separately, Union Minister of State Ravneet Singh Bittu was stopped by police while proceeding from Sangrur to Dhuri, leading to a verbal exchange between him and the district’s senior police officials.
Shiromani Akali Dal MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal alleged that firing incidents had taken place in Bathinda during polling.
The civic elections are being closely watched against the backdrop of the 2027 Punjab Assembly polls. Political observers believe the outcome could serve as an indicator of the public mood towards the ruling AAP government after more than four years in office.
A strong performance by AAP may help the ruling party counter anti-incumbency claims ahead of the Assembly elections, while gains by the Congress, BJP or Shiromani Akali Dal could provide momentum to opposition parties as they prepare for the next electoral battle in the state.
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