Chandigarh: Polling is underway for five municipalities and 44 municipal councils and nagar panchayats in Punjab, officials said on Saturday. Polling began at 7 am amid tight security and would continue till 4 pm, they said.
Officials informed that the votes will be counted at the polling station after the voting is over.
Elections are being held in Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Patiala and Phagwara municipalities.
Officials said that more than 3,300 candidates are competing for the civil elections, and a total of 3,809 polling stations have been established.
A total of 37.32 lakh voters including 17.75 lakh women are eligible to vote in these elections.
Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) is being used for voting.
Officials said that adequate security arrangements have been made.
The civic polls will be a litmus test for the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which wants to continue its winning streak after winning three out of four Assembly by-elections in November.
These elections are important because they will reveal the popularity of the ruling party among urban voters.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann held roadshows and campaigns for Aam Aadmi Party candidates in the run-up to the polls.
This will be the first test for Aman Arora after being appointed as AAP’s Punjab unit chief. Arora campaigned and made many promises to voters.
The stakes are also high for the Congress, which has a majority in Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Patiala Municipal Corporations.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) are also contesting the municipal elections.