Punjab Newsline | Faridkot/Bathinda
Voting for Punjab’s civic body elections began on Tuesday across eight municipal corporations, including Bathinda, Abohar, Batala, Barnala, Kapurthala, Moga, Pathankot and Mohali. Along with these, polling is also being conducted for 75 municipal councils and 20 nagar panchayats across the state.
Polling began at 8 am and will continue till 5 pm. Unlike previous elections, voting is being conducted through ballot papers instead of EVMs. A total of 7,555 candidates are in the fray, while nearly 36.73 lakh voters are expected to cast their votes.
Tension surfaced early in the day after Congress candidate Jagdev Singh Jagga, contesting from Ward No. 4 in the Raikot Municipal Council elections in Ludhiana, was allegedly attacked. Jagga sustained serious injuries and was rushed to DMC Hospital in critical condition and referred to PGI Chandigarh. Following the incident, the local Congress unit blamed the ruling party and questioned the law-and-order situation in the state.
Meanwhile, a heated altercation between two groups was also reported from Ward No. 7 in Kot Ise Khan area of Moga, leading to tension in the locality.
To ensure smooth and peaceful polling, the state election authorities have set up 1,014 polling booths across Punjab. Around 35,000 election staff and 32,000 police personnel have been deployed to maintain security and monitor sensitive areas closely.
The Punjab State Election Commission stated that elaborate arrangements have been made to conduct the elections peacefully. Strict restrictions have also been imposed inside polling stations, with nine prohibited items barred from entry, including switched-off mobile phones.
A public holiday has been declared across Punjab due to the polling process, while liquor sales have also been prohibited for the day as part of election regulations.
