Poll workers check election materials before going to their respective polling stations for election duty on the eve of Punjab Municipal Corporation elections at the Polo Ground in Patiala on Friday (December 20, 2024). | Photo Credit: ANI
“Voting is underway for elections to five Municipalities and 44 Municipal Councils and Nagar Panchayats in Punjab,” officials said on Saturday (December 21, 2024).
“Amid tight security arrangements, the polling which started at 7 am will continue till 4 pm”, they said.
After the voting is over, the votes will be counted at the polling station itself, said the official.
The five municipalities to be elected are Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Patiala and Phagwara.
‘More than 3,300 candidates are in the field for the civic elections,’ the officials said, ‘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, ‘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.
published – December 21, 2024 at 09:55 pm IST