Punjab to conduct local body polls via ballot papers; BJP alleges conspiracy

In a major procedural shift, the Punjab State Election Commission has decided to conduct the upcoming local body elections using ballot papers and ballot boxes instead of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

State Election Commissioner Raj Kamal Chaudhary confirmed that the decision was necessitated by the unavailability of EVMs from Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL).

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The company, which was occupied with assembly elections in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, expressed its inability to provide the machines before May 10.

The Commission noted that procuring machines, allocating them, and training staff after that date would have caused significant delays in the election schedule.

The elections, scheduled for Tuesday, May 26, will cover eight municipal corporations, including Mohali, Bathinda, and Pathankot, along with 76 municipal councils and 21 nagar panchayats. A total of 3,977 polling stations have been established for over 36.72 lakh registered voters. The Commission has prepared 4,200 ballot boxes, ensuring one for each station with additional reserves. Commissioner Chaudhary clarified that while EVMs are standard, the Punjab Municipal Election Rules, 1994, explicitly permit the use of ballot boxes when machines are unavailable. Counting is set to take place on Friday, May 29.

However, the decision has triggered a sharp political backlash from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). A high-level delegation led by Punjab BJP President Sunil Jakhar met with the State Election Commissioner today to demand a reversal of the move.

Jakhar accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government of conspiring with the Commission to manipulate the polls.

He alleged that the sudden switch to manual voting is a strategy to “loot” the elections through rigging during the counting process, similar to allegations made during the recent Panchayati Raj polls.

The BJP delegation, which included senior leaders like Vijay Sampla and Som Prakash, further criticised the government for failing to hold an all-party meeting before changing the voting method.

Jakhar claimed that the ruling party is fearful of defeat and is undermining democratic conventions by ignoring previous assurances that EVMs would be used.

The opposition also raised concerns regarding irregularities in ward delimitation and restricted access to voter lists, urging the Commission to reinstate EVM-based polling to ensure neutrality and transparency in accordance with Supreme Court guidelines.