Chandigarh, Dec 14: The Punjab State Election Commission (SEC) on Sunday ordered repolling at four polling booths after receiving complaints of alleged booth capturing and presiding officers absconding with ballot papers during the Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections.
The repoll will be held on Tuesday at Chahiyan village in Gurdaspur, Babania and Madhir villages in Muktsar, and Chananwal village in Barnala, officials said.
“Serious complaints were received from these locations, including allegations that presiding officers left the booths with ballot papers,” a senior SEC official said.
Polling for the local body elections began at 8 a.m. and concluded at 4 p.m. on Sunday. While the final turnout figure is still being compiled, officials said around 47% of voters had cast their ballots till 4:30 p.m.
The elections were held to elect members from 347 zones of 22 Zila Parishads and 2,838 zones of 153 Panchayat Samitis. More than 9,000 candidates were in the fray, with 1.36 crore voters eligible to vote.
The counting of votes has been scheduled for December 17, officials said.
