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Violence Mars Punjab Panchayat Polls as 8 Injured

Amid tight security, Punjab's panchayat elections see skirmishes and allegations of irregularities, with repolling ordered in several villages.

Polling officials carry voting materials before leaving for their respective polling booths on the eve of gram panchayat elections in Amritsar on Monday. (Sameer Sehgal/Hindustan Times)
Voters in queue to exercise their franchise at the Government School at Bir Talab village in Bathinda district during the panchayat elections on Tuesday. (Sanjeev Kumar/HT)
The Supreme Court refused to stay the ongoing Punjab panchayat elections after hearing petitions regarding complications faced by candidates while filing nominations
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday criticised Congress leader and LoP Partap Singh Bajwa for demanding “cancellation” of the panchayat elections in the state. (HT File)

Overview

  • At least eight people were injured in various incidents of violence, including two firing incidents, during Punjab's panchayat elections.
  • Polling was largely peaceful in many districts, but clashes and allegations of rigging were reported, particularly involving the ruling Aam Aadmi Party.
  • The elections, conducted without political party symbols, faced disruptions due to technical issues and missing voter names, leading to repolling in some areas.
  • The Supreme Court refused to stay the elections despite petitions citing irregularities, warning that halting the process would cause chaos.
  • Security was heightened across the state, with over 19,000 polling booths and 1.33 crore registered voters participating in the election.