Election Drama Unfolds: Punjab's Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti Vote Counting

Vote counting for Punjab's zila parishad and panchayat samiti elections began amid accusations of malpractices. The December 14 polls, with a 48% turnout and over 9,000 candidates, faced allegations from opposition parties claiming electoral misconduct by the ruling AAP. Counting commenced at various centers across the state.

Amid stringent security measures, vote counting for the zila parishad and panchayat samiti elections in Punjab commenced on Wednesday, as confirmed by officials. These elections are critical for selecting representatives for 347 zones of 22 zila parishads and 2,838 zones of 153 panchayat samitis, held earlier on December 14.

The electoral process saw a modest voter turnout of 48 percent, involving a competitive field of over 9,000 candidates. Counting began at 8 a.m. across numerous centers statewide, reflecting the intense interest in these pivotal local elections.

All major political parties, including the Aam Aadmi Party, Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal, and the BJP, contested using their party symbols. Allegations of electoral malpractices marred the polls, with opposition parties like Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal critiquing the ruling AAP for purportedly exploiting government machinery to invalidate opposition nominations and indulge in other malpractices.

(With inputs from agencies.)