Chandigarh, 21 December 2024 — Polling for elections to five municipal corporations and 44 municipal councils and nagar panchayats is underway in Punjab, with voting starting at 7 am on Saturday and set to continue until 4 pm, officials confirmed. The votes will be counted at the polling stations once the voting concludes, they added.
The municipal corporations involved in the elections are Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Patiala, and Phagwara, where local political parties are contesting fiercely for control. The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) views the elections as a crucial test of its popularity, following its successes in three out of four Assembly bypolls in November.
The Congress, which holds a majority in the municipal corporations of Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, and Patiala, faces a tough challenge to retain power. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) are also competing in the elections, making the contest more intense.
As of 1 pm, Mohali district recorded a voter turnout of 50.67%, with individual constituencies reporting varied participation. In Kharar, the turnout was 32.37%, while Nayagaon had 40.78%. Banur saw a higher turnout of 53.67%, and Gharuan Nagar Panchayat recorded the highest with 61.94%.
In Patiala, tensions flared as workers from the SAD, AAP, and BJP clashed at Shere Punjab market, leading to a lathi charge by the police. Two individuals sustained minor injuries during the scuffle.
In Ludhiana, some voters faced issues at the polling stations when they could not find their names on the voter lists despite arriving to cast their votes. Election officials are working to resolve these issues.
With tight security measures in place and high stakes for all parties, the outcome of today’s elections could significantly impact the political landscape in Punjab.
