Punjab witnessed voting for civic body elections on Tuesday, 26th May, amid reports of clashes and tension from different parts of the state, with stone-pelting reported in Samana. The polls were conducted for the election of councillors for 1,896 wards in eight municipal corporations, 75 municipal councils, and 20 nagar panchayats. There were 35.45 lakh voters registered to vote, whereas a total of 7,555 candidates contested in the polls. Polling started from 8 am and concluded by 5 pm.
The State Election Commission had deployed around 32,000 police personnel and 35,000 election officials for the poll. According to the State Election Commissioner, Raj Kamal Chaudhry, 740 polling stations had been declared sensitive, and 274 as hyper-sensitive.
Stone-pelting and clashes in Samana
Tension was witnessed in Samana’s Ward No. 19 as polling moved towards the final hours. Stone-pelting was reported during a clash where several SAD and Congress workers were beaten during the confrontation involving supporters of the ruling party. Opposition candidates also raised slogans against the AAP and the police administration.
Claims of violence during Amritsar MC elections
SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia accused the ruling party of violence and voter intimidation during the Amritsar municipal corporation polls. A party worker suffered a serious head injury after being attacked with a sharp weapon, while a voter claimed he was slapped by the husband of an AAP candidate from Ward No. 9. Majithia sought action from senior police officials.
Heated exchange at Nawanshahr booth
A tense situation developed at a sensitive polling booth in Nawanshahr’s Ward No. 13 after Independent candidates Paramjit Singh Bakhshi and Makhan Singh Grewal got into an argument over claims of influencing voters. Their supporters also gathered at the spot before police intervened and separated both sides. Officials later said polling continued normally in the area.
Row over missing votes in Khanna
Former Cabinet Minister Gurkirat Singh Kotli protested outside a polling station in Khanna’s Ward No. 5 over deleted votes and the movement of AAP volunteers inside polling booths. Congress candidate Neeru Rani’s vote was initially missing and was later found at another booth. Similar objections were also raised in Ward No. 15 before officials resolved the issue.
BJP candidate’s husband injured in Barnala clash
Violence also broke out in Barnala’s Ward No. 15 after a dispute over fake voting claims. BJP candidate Deepinder Kaur’s husband, Jasbir Singh, was attacked during the clash, where his turban was removed, and he suffered head injuries after being hit with a weapon. He was later shifted to the hospital in critical condition.
Clash in Gidderbaha
In Gidderbaha, supporters and workers of the Aam Aadmi Party and Shiromani Akali Dal were involved in a physical clash near polling stations. Eyewitnesses said the dispute started over arrangements around the polling booths and later turned into a confrontation.
Unlike previous elections conducted through Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), these civic polls were held using ballot papers. The counting of votes and declaration of results will take place on 29th May.
