Jobaaj Stories
Sporadic violence marked the elections for five municipal corporations and 44 municipal councils and nagar panchayats in Punjab on Saturday. The clashes primarily took place in Patiala, where supporters of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) locked horns.
The opposition parties, BJP and SAD, accused AAP of orchestrating fake voting in various polling booths. AAP denied these allegations.
Allegations and Clashes in Patiala
There were reports of scuffles and heated exchanges between the supporters of AAP and BJP in Patiala. BJP leader Jai Inder Kaur claimed that outsiders were seen in the area, allegedly casting fake votes, and demanded police action. BJP candidate from Ward No. 34, Sushil Nayyar, even threatened self-immolation, alleging widespread fraud. The police, led by Patiala Senior Superintendent of Police Nanak Singh, intervened, but BJP supporters continued to argue that unauthorized individuals were casting fraudulent votes.
Political Leaders Participate in Voting
Prominent political leaders such as BJP’s Tarun Chugh, Congress MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla, Ludhiana MLA Ashok Prashar, and Jalandhar Cantt MLA Pargat Singh were seen exercising their right to vote, while allegations of irregularities and misconduct swirled around the elections.
Election Results and Voter Turnout
Voting took place from 7 am to 4 pm amid tight security. By 3 pm, the voter turnout had reached 55%. Counting of votes is currently underway. The elections are crucial for AAP, as it aims to maintain its momentum after a strong showing in the November Assembly bypolls.
Significance of the Elections
These municipal polls will be an important indicator of AAP’s popularity among urban voters and a crucial test for Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s leadership. The results are also significant for Congress, which controls key municipal corporations like Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, and Patiala.
