Violence and Allegations Mar Punjab Civic Polls Amid High Turnout

The civic elections in Punjab witnessed significant violence and accusations of booth capturing, with voting turnout hitting 63.94% amid a heatwave. Key political parties, including AAP, Congress, BJP, and SAD, are on edge ahead of next year's assembly polls. The outcome is seen as pivotal for the ruling AAP.

The municipal elections in Punjab were marked by violent clashes among supporters of major political parties, including Congress, AAP, BJP, and SAD. Reports of booth capturing also surfaced during the polling, which recorded a 63.94% voter turnout despite a challenging heatwave.

The ruling AAP, facing a key test ahead of the next year's assembly elections, was accused by SAD and Congress leaders of failing to maintain law and order. The incidents included violent attacks on several candidates, sparking widespread condemnation and calls for action against those responsible. Tensions escalated in various districts, pushing police to intervene as rival party supporters clashed.

Polling commenced at 8 am and concluded at 5 pm with the counting set for May 29. A total of 1,897 wards participated across eight municipal corporations and numerous councils. Authorities reported a range of voter turnouts, with the highest at 76.18% in nagar panchayats. The elections saw heavy police deployment with sensitive booths under high security.

Punjab Congress leader Warring criticized the AAP government's handling of the elections, particularly singling out the incident involving Congress candidate Jagdev Singh Jagga's attack. Meanwhile, allegations of voter intimidation and violence continued to pour in as political tensions remained high across the state.