punjab-polls-37l-voters-to-decide-fate-of-3-336-candidates

Punjab civic polls are scheduled for Saturday, December 21, and will decide the fate of 3,336 candidates. Elections will take place for five municipal corporations, 41 municipal councils, nagar panchayats, and vacant seats in other civic bodies.

 

The campaigning for the civic polls concluded on Friday.

 

The municipal corporations of Amritsar and Jalandhar each have 85 wards, Ludhiana has 95, Patiala 60, and Phagwara 50.  

 

Nearly 37.32 lakh voters, which include 17.75 lakh females and 204 others, are eligible to cast their votes.

 

AAP looks for opportunity:

 

The ruling CM Bhagwant Mann-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government views these elections, which will be contested on party symbols, as a significant opportunity to gain control of all major municipal corporations in the state.

 

Mann carried out extensive campaigning for the civic polls and is confident of AAP emerging as a winner.

 

In the last two days, CM Mann held back-to-back rallies in Amritsar, Phagwara, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, and Patiala among other places.

 

Oppn claims their candidates were stopped from filing nominations:

 

The opposition parties -- Congress, BJP, and SAD -- have raised concerns over alleged misuse of official machinery. They claim that their candidates were stopped from filing nomination papers, accusing the AAP of undermining a fair election process.

 

SAD, and BJP are contesting this year's civic polls, separately.

 

Shops and schools closed:

 

December 21 will be a "close day" for shops, factories, and commercial facilities within the jurisdiction of the civic bodies holding elections, allowing workers to cast their votes. Meanwhile, the schools that are being used as polling stations will also be closed.

 

Government employees and workers, who are voters in these municipal bodies but are posted elsewhere, will be granted special leave to exercise their franchise.

 

Additionally, the day of polling will be a "Dry Day" within the revenue jurisdiction of the municipal bodies holding elections.

 

Guru Nanak Dev University in Amritsar, Punjabi University in Patiala, and Panjab University in Chandigarh have postponed all exams scheduled for December 21.