Chandigarh: Clashes were reported from various parts of Punjab as the state witnessed a turnout of 71.39 per cent in local body polls held on Sunday. While a BJP candidate in Sangrur alleged that his and his wife’s votes were cast by someone else, in Jalalabad, SAD workers alleged that the voting list had no pictures of voters, which could lead to bogus voting. In Muktsar, SAD workers were accused of attacking the Congress candidate while in Hoshiarpur, a BJP leader’s vehicle was allegedly attacked by unidentified people. Complaints also came from Bathinda, Abohar as well as Punjab’s 117 Urban local bodies (ULBs). Farmers also staged protests outside some polling booths.
In Majha, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) local leader Manbir Singh was admitted in hospital with bullet injury in leg in Patti. He alleged that Congress members attempted to capture the booth and he was shot at as he objected to the same. Manbir said, “There was heavy police security deployed when I was attacked by Congress workers in ward number 7 of Patti as I tried to stop fake voting and booth capturing.”
Clashes also errupted in ward no. 4 of Bhikhiwind of Tarn Taran between SAD and Congress workers. However, no one was injured. Suresh Bhatia, former BJP district president and Ex Improvement Trust chairman sustained the head injuries in a clash with Congress workers in ward no 40. He claimed that despite complaint to police, Congress workers were not prevented by police from trying to capture the booth.
A minor scuffle, Congress worker Harminder Singh alias Sandy said that his turban was allegedly removed. Another clash between Congress and SAD was witnessed in Fatehgarh Churian in ward 22. Police also restored to mild lathicharge to control the situation. In Pathankot, BJP state president Ashwani Sharma staged a dharna and alleged that BJP workers were attacked in election violence. SAD leader Dr DS Cheema accused the Congress of blatantly misusing government machinery to “capture” booths and unleashing violence on the Opposition to intimidate voters. “No concrete steps were taken to ensure free and fair elections. Akali supporters were attacked with sharp weapons at several places,” he claimed. The counting will be held on February 17.
Elections were held in 117 urban local bodies (ULBs) - including eight municipal corporations, 109 municipal councils and nagar panchayats - of Punjab. Bypolls were held in four wards. In 2015, elections were held in 123 municipal councils with 69 per cent of consolidated voting. This time, 9,222 candidates are in the fray, of which 2,832 are independents. Mansa recorded the maximum turnout of 82.99 per cent, followed by Bathinda at 79 per cent, while Sangrur witnessed a turnout of 77.39 per cent. Mohali witnessed the lowest turnout at 60.08% per cent.
