Punjab MC Polls record 61.5 % voting till 5 pm amid clashes in several districts
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, May 26: Punjab recorded an estimated 61.5 per cent voter turnout till 5 pm during the municipal elections held across the state on Tuesday, amid sporadic incidents of violence, clashes and allegations of voter intimidation in several districts.
The elections, being seen as a key political test ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly polls, were conducted for eight municipal corporations, 75 municipal councils and 20 nagar panchayats.
To ensure peaceful polling, the Punjab State Election Commission deployed nearly 32,000 police personnel and around 35,000 election staff across the state.
Tense situations were reported from Raikot in Ludhiana district, Samana in Patiala and parts of Moga, where rival political groups allegedly clashed during voting hours.
In Patiala’s Samana Ward No. 19, reports of stone-pelting and alleged aerial firing created panic during polling. Security forces had to intervene at multiple locations to bring the situation under control.
According to reports, police also resorted to lathi-charge at some places to disperse clashing groups and prevent disruption of the polling process.
Eyewitnesses alleged incidents of voter intimidation and attempts to influence polling, while officials maintained that the situation was later controlled with additional deployment of security personnel.
Despite isolated disturbances, polling continued under tight security arrangements in most parts of Punjab.