Chandigarh: The process of counting votes for Punjab’s Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections got underway on Wednesday morning, with officials opening ballot boxes at 154 counting centres across 141 locations in the state. The polls, conducted on Sunday, will determine the outcome for 347 Zila Parishad seats and 2,838 Panchayat Samiti constituencies.
Officials from the State Election Commission said the use of paper ballots is expected to slow the counting process, and complete results may only be available late into the night. Security arrangements have been tightened at counting venues as officials work through thousands of ballot papers.
The elections have drawn intense political interest, with more than 9,000 candidates awaiting results. All major parties entered the contest using their official symbols, underlining the high stakes attached to the local body polls.
Tensions surfaced early in the day as opposition parties alleged interference with the counting process. In Patiala, leaders of the Shiromani Akali Dal claimed that some of their polling agents were obstructed from reaching counting centres, accusing members of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party of creating hurdles along the Nabha Road. No official response had been issued at the time of reporting.
The local body elections were held in a highly charged atmosphere, coming just over a year before the next Punjab Assembly elections. Political observers view the results as a key indicator of grassroots support and organisational strength ahead of the 2027 Vidhan Sabha battle.
As counting continues district by district, parties and candidates remain on edge, with the final tallies expected to shape political strategies in the months to come.
