Polling for nearly 1.05 lakh candidates contesting for panch and sarpanch posts across Punjab began on Tuesday. Voters lined up to cast their ballots through traditional ballot boxes, with voting continuing until 4 PM.
Ballot counting will start immediately at each polling station once voting ends.
Despite political tensions and Congress’ calls to delay the election, the process moved forward under tight security to ensure a smooth and fair election.
The Congress had demanded a postponement, citing alleged irregularities during the nomination process.
Authorities have set up over 19,000 polling booths, covering more than 13,000 gram panchayats.
The state’s 1.33 crore registered voters, including over 70 lakh men and 63 lakh women, are participating in the elections.
So far, 3,798 candidates have been elected unopposed as sarpanches, while 48,861 candidates have secured panch posts without the need for voting.
However, elections are taking place in 9,398 gram panchayats due to some cancellations and disputes in 29 panchayats.
This election also marks the implementation of the Punjab Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which bans candidates from using political party symbols, reinforcing the non-partisan nature of these local elections.
Congress Alleges Misconduct; Seeks Delay
On Monday, Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa and a Congress delegation urged the Punjab State Election Commissioner to postpone the election by three weeks.
Bajwa accused the ruling party of engineering ‘serious irregularities’ in the nomination process, where many candidates faced wrongful rejections, and opposition-backed candidates struggled to get essential documentation for their nominations.
The Congress also criticized the use of an outdated voter list from January 2023, instead of the updated 2024 list used during the Lok Sabha elections.
Bajwa warned that these issues could compromise the fairness of the polls.
AAP Defends Election Process; Applauds Court Ruling
In contrast, the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) welcomed the smooth conduct of the election and praised the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s decision to reject petitions challenging the process.
The court’s ruling on Monday cleared the way for the elections to proceed as scheduled.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann expressed his gratitude to the High Court on social media platform X, affirming that the election process would move ahead smoothly.
He urged citizens to cast their votes peacefully and select representatives who would contribute to the progress of their villages.
Mann also extended his best wishes to all panch and sarpanch candidates.
Thanks to the Hon’ble High Court. The path is now clear for the panchayat elections in Punjab, scheduled for tomorrow, October 15. I urge all Punjabis to participate in this vital process by casting your votes peacefully. Uphold the spirit of mutual brotherhood and choose…
— Bhagwant Mann (@BhagwantMann) October 14, 2024
Senior AAP leader Neel Garg called the High Court’s decision a major setback for opposition parties, accusing them of spreading ‘false narratives’ to mislead voters.
He said Congress was trying to use ‘pressure politics’ to delay the polls, but their attempt had failed.
“The people of Punjab will now see through these tactics and reject the Congress,” Garg declared.
Security & Voter Turnout
Officials put in place robust security measures to ensure the polling process remains smooth and free from disruptions.
The state election commission directed district authorities to maintain a fair voting environment at all booths.
Voter turnout, especially in rural areas, is expected to play a pivotal role in shaping the election’s outcome, as these local polls serve as a barometer for future state and national elections.
With voting underway, Punjab’s political future at the grassroots level is now in the hands of the voters, and the results will offer key insights into the strength of various political forces across the state.
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