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CHANDIGARH: Counting of votes for the civic body elections, which will decide the fate of 7,554 candidates, began across Punjab on Friday at 8 am. More than 63 per cent of voters exercised their franchise to elect their local representatives in eight municipal corporations and other civic bodies. At least 21.38 lakh voters participated in the elections to choose councillors for 75 municipal councils and 19 nagar panchayats. The results of these elections are being seen as a major test for the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann ahead of the 2027 Assembly polls. State Election Commissioner Raj Kamal Chaudhari said, “All arrangements made by the State Election Commission are in place to ensure free, fair, and transparent counting of votes, which began at 8 am.” He added that counting officials and assistants have been deputed after randomisation by the election observer in every district. Two micro-observers have been assigned for each counting centre. They will work under the direct supervision of the general observer and submit their reports accordingly. Entry into the counting hall has been restricted to authorised persons only. The elections saw sporadic incidents of violence in some areas, but polling was largely conducted smoothly across most parts of the state. Counting for 61 wards of the three civic bodies in Malerkotla also started under tight security arrangements. The sorting and packeting are being done in the presence of candidates and their counting agents to maintain transparency, said DC Viraj S Tidke. Supporters of various candidates have started gathering outside counting stations at Ahmedgarh (17 wards), Amargarh (11 wards), and Malerkotla (33 wards).
CHANDIGARH: Counting of votes for the civic body elections, which will decide the fate of 7,554 candidates, began across Punjab on Friday at 8 am. More than 63 per cent of voters exercised their franchise to elect their local representatives in eight municipal corporations and other civic bodies. At least 21.38 lakh voters participated in the elections to choose councillors for 75 municipal councils and 19 nagar panchayats. The results of these elections are being seen as a major test for the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann ahead of the 2027 Assembly polls. State Election Commissioner Raj Kamal Chaudhari said, “All arrangements made by the State Election Commission are in place to ensure free, fair, and transparent counting of votes, which began at 8 am.” He added that counting officials and assistants have been deputed after randomisation by the election observer in every district. Two micro-observers have been assigned for each counting centre. They will work under the direct supervision of the general observer and submit their reports accordingly. Entry into the counting hall has been restricted to authorised persons only. The elections saw sporadic incidents of violence in some areas, but polling was largely conducted smoothly across most parts of the state. Counting for 61 wards of the three civic bodies in Malerkotla also started under tight security arrangements. The sorting and packeting are being done in the presence of candidates and their counting agents to maintain transparency, said DC Viraj S Tidke. Supporters of various candidates have started gathering outside counting stations at Ahmedgarh (17 wards), Amargarh (11 wards), and Malerkotla (33 wards).