Chandigarh: Voting for the municipal elections across Punjab saw a steady turnout of 31.6% till 12 noon on Tuesday, even as isolated incidents of tension, allegations of malpractice, and police action were reported from several districts.
The elections, seen as an early political test ahead of the 2027 Assembly race, have drawn 7,555 candidates into contest across municipal corporations, councils, and nagar panchayats. Polling began at 8 am and is scheduled to continue till 5 pm across the state.
According to the Punjab State Election Commission, voting is being held for 1,896 wards, with over 35.45 lakh registered voters expected to exercise their franchise. The commission has deployed extensive security arrangements, including nearly 32,000 police personnel and 35,000 election staff, to ensure smooth polling.
State Election Commissioner Raj Kamal Chaudhari said that 740 booths had been declared sensitive and 274 hyper-sensitive, with additional forces stationed to prevent any disruption to the voting process.
Despite the arrangements, several incidents were reported during the day. In Raikot, a Congress candidate sustained injuries following an attack, prompting concern among party workers and leading to heightened security in the area. In another development, police in Fazilka arrested two individuals allegedly linked to a political party on charges related to the alleged distribution of opium and cash during the election period. Officials said cash and a quantity of narcotics were recovered during the operation, and a case has been registered under relevant provisions of election law and the NDPS Act.
Elsewhere, minor clashes broke out in Samana when a crowd gathered near a polling station, requiring police intervention led by senior officers to disperse the gathering and restore order. Similarly, in Moga, tensions escalated at multiple booths after allegations of fake voting were raised by rival parties, briefly disrupting polling before security personnel stepped in to bring the situation under control.
Police officials confirmed that voting has largely remained peaceful across most areas, with only scattered disturbances being managed swiftly. Authorities continue to monitor sensitive booths as polling progresses through the afternoon.
