Chandigarh, May 26
Polling for Punjab’s civic body elections recorded a voter turnout of 45.60 percent till 2 pm on Tuesday amid tight security arrangements across the state. During the voting process in Raikot, Congress candidate Jagdev Singh Jagga was allegedly attacked by a group of people armed with sharp-edged weapons and sustained injuries.
Jagga, who is contesting from Ward No. 4 in Raikot, was admitted to a private hospital in Ludhiana following the incident. The attack triggered political reactions, with Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring criticising the state government over the law and order situation.
In a post on X, Warring alleged that the attack reflected a breakdown of law and order under the Bhagwant Mann-led government and raised concerns about the safety of election candidates and the general public.
Polling began at 8 am and is scheduled to continue till 5 pm through ballot papers. Vote counting will take place on May 29.
The elections are being held for 103 municipal bodies, including eight municipal corporations, 75 municipal councils, and 20 Nagar Panchayats across Punjab. A total of 7,555 candidates are contesting the polls.
The ruling Aam Aadmi Party has fielded the highest number of candidates with 1,801 nominees, followed by the Congress with 1,550 candidates. The BJP has fielded 1,316 candidates, while the Shiromani Akali Dal has 1,251 contestants. The BSP has fielded 96 candidates, while 1,528 Independents are also in the fray.
Voters, especially women and senior citizens, were seen standing in queues at polling stations during the morning hours to avoid the afternoon heat.
Among prominent leaders who cast their votes were Punjab BJP working president Ashwani Sharma in Pathankot and AAP MLA Amansher Singh Sherry Kalsi in Batala.
Punjab Congress chief Warring, accompanied by his wife Amrita Warring, arrived at a polling station in Muktsar on a bullock cart. He said the gesture was intended to highlight the burden of rising fuel prices on ordinary citizens.
Punjab ministers Aman Arora and Harjot Singh Bains also appealed to people to exercise their franchise.
Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia alleged that several polling stations lacked wheelchair facilities for differently abled voters, causing inconvenience to many.
According to officials, there are over 35.45 lakh registered voters for the civic polls, including more than 17.11 lakh women voters. Around 35,000 election personnel and 32,000 police personnel have been deployed to ensure smooth and peaceful polling.
Authorities identified 740 polling booths as sensitive and 275 as hyper-sensitive. Security arrangements were tightened across vulnerable locations to maintain law and order during the elections.
The Punjab government declared a public holiday on May 26 to facilitate voting. The civic elections are being viewed as politically significant as they are taking place ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections.
