Chandigarh: The voting for the Punjab civic polls began on Sunday morning, the state Election Commission said while interacting with the media. Incidents of clash between SAD (Badal) and Congress workers and voter intimidation in several wards of Patiala were reported.
Polling began at 8 am and will continue till 4 pm.
The main contest is among the ruling Congress, main opposition Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal)-BJP alliance. Local issues of towns and cities and the respective wards dominated the campaigning for the municipal elections.
The results will be declared on Sunday evening.
As reported by the media sources, Congress workers were found waving swords and threatening voters near Patiala book market. In Ward No. 42 voters complain that Congress supporters jumping queue. There are complaints that Congress workers have skipped having their fingers inked.Complaints of Congress workers threatening voters in Ward No 25.
Furthermore, in ward no 54 Badal Dal Leader Harbaksh Chahal accuses administration of playing into hands of Congress; says his supporters thrown out by police while those of Congress allowed inside the booth without voter cards. At Ward No. 14 it is reported that the police resorted to lathicharge and reportedly took away Mobile phones of press people present at that time.
It is reported by the media sources that, voters are leaving the voting venue set up at Government College for Women complaining harassment. Police is reportedly behaving like a mute spectator. AAP’s polling agents been allegedly thrashed at ward no 49. Former cabinet minister Surjit Singh Rakhra claims that 10 of 12 percent voting in Patiala so far was done by goons of Congress party and supported by administration, notes The Tribune (TT).