INDIA
The main contest in the urban local bodies is among the Congress, the opposition Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).
The counting of votes for the 116 Punjab urban local bodies, including seven high-stake municipal corporations, started at 9 am on Wednesday morning. The fate of 2,252 candidates will be decided through the elections. Tight security arrangements have been made at the counting centres.
Voting for the seats occurred on February 14 where 39,15,280 or 71.39% of voters exercised their right to vote.
The main contest in the urban local bodies is among the Congress, the opposition Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).
The BJP, which is facing anger over the contentious Central farm laws, is also in the fray. It is contesting the polls for the first time in two decades without the Akalis, the oldest NDA ally that has parted ways from it over the farm laws.
Local issues of towns and cities and the respective wards dominated the campaigning.
The counting began for seven municipal corporations -- Abohar, Bathinda, Batala, Kapurthala, Hoshiarpur, Pathankot and Moga -- and 109 municipal councils and municipal panchayats.
A total of 9,222 candidates were in fray for 2,302 wards.
Political observers say these polls just a year ahead of the Assembly elections are a `semi-final` for the Amarinder Singh-led Congress government that is eyeing to repeat its victory against the backdrop of the farm laws that have generated a wave of anger against the BJP.
On the eve of ballot count, a confident Chief Minister Amarinder Singh termed the allegations of the BJP and AAP on rigging of civic polls as a typical case of crying foul in the face of their imminent defeat in the election.
"It`s a panic reaction to their inevitable wipeout in these polls," said the Chief Minister, adding that the BJP and AAP, as well as SAD, are all set to be completely trounced in these municipal polls, whose results will be the precursor of worse to come for these parties that have totally lost the confidence and trust of the people.
"All these parties have worked together to ruin Punjab, with the black farm laws the latest in the long line of their anti-people and anti-Punjab actions," Amarinder Singh added.
(With agency inputs)
Delhi's air quality remains 'poor' at 231; thin layer of smog limits visibility
Delhi Weather Update: Winter is finally here! IMD predicts temperature to drop to...
Delhi: DPS RK Puram, GD Goenka School receive bomb threat, students sent back home
Where is UPSC topper IAS Tina Dabi's sister IAS Ria Dabi these days? Know her current posting
Ramayana: Ranbir Kapoor opens up about playing Lord Ram, says 'it’s a film that...'
PM Modi to inaugurate 'Rising Rajasthan Global Investment Summit' in Jaipur today
Syria Civil War: Bashar al-Assad and his family in Moscow, granted asylum
World's largest coral is bigger than the largest animal on Earth, it was discovered in…
Mohammed Siraj, Travis Head to face charges by ICC after heated exchange in Adelaide pink-ball Test
This man once sold balloons on street, later built company worth Rs 55417 crore, Virat Kohli is its…
Meet woman who plays key role in Rs 1.04 lakh crore company, mother-in-law of superstar, she is...
Viral video: Little girl wins hearts with adorable dance to Alia Bhatt's 'Radha' song, watch
Delhi influencer applies green chillies to get plumper lips; does it really work?
Meet woman, who secured AIR 35 in UPSC exam with full-time job, currently working as...
This woman, became 4th Indian to go to space, but was unable to become an astronaut due to…
Shimla, Kasauli receive season’s first snow, watch video here
5 ways to study in IIT without clearing JEE Advance
'He is working hard...': Sunil Gavaskar praises Virat Kohli despite poor run in Adelaide Test
UPSC coach claims IPS trainee broke glass on his head at Delhi wedding, FIR lodged
Meet man who once worked as agent, now has Rs 49110 crore net worth, his business is...
World's richest man Elon Musk’s Grok AI now FREE for all users, targets ChatGPT, Google Gemini
This woman wins over Rs 1 lakh for not using phone for 8 hours
Who is Abu Mohammed al-Golani? Syrian rebel leader toppled President Bashar Assad's regime
Shahid Afridi breaks silence on India’s Champions Trophy travel stance, says 'there is no....'
IND vs BAN: Bangladesh beat India by 59 runs to defend U19 Asia Cup title
WATCH: Man beats bank manager over TDS deduction on fixed deposit, video goes viral
Meet Rajender Meghwar, who has become first Hindu officer in Pakistan police, he is from...
Canada: 20-year-old Indian shot dead in Edmonton, chilling video surfaces
IND vs AUS: Rohit Sharma provides massive update on Mohammed Shami’s return after 2nd Test loss
KING complimenting...: Shah Rukh Khan’s sweet gesture at Delhi wedding goes viral, WATCH
Meet Shantanu Dwivedi who topped CLAT 2025 from UP, secures AIR…
Meet man, not Indian, who leads business worth Rs 50000000 in Bengaluru just by selling...
Japanese couple recreates Shah Rukh Khan-Kajol's iconic K3G scene with adorable twist, watch
Netherlands: Five die after explosion erupts in building in The Hague
Haryana boy rides on car roof, says policeman father will protect him, video goes viral
Rekha recalls performing dandiya with Amitabh Bachchan in Suhaag, says 'khud hi har angh angh'
Diljit Dosanjh's fever hit Bengaluru metro as fans sing 'Ikk Kudi', here's what happened next, watch
THIS Shark Tank India company gave 40X return in 3 years for Ashneer Grover, Peyush Bansal, it is...
The end of an era: Assad's fall leaves Syria at a crossroads
Pushpa 2 stampede: 8-year-old boy shows signs of improvement, still not conscious
J-K: Two police personnel found dead with bullet injuries in Udhampur, probe underway
Delhi-NCR Update: AQI continues to remain in 'poor' category, likely to worsen on...
Woman makes saree from old newspaper, takes 4 hours to drape it, watch viral video
'Plastic pehen liya': Malaika Arora grooves with AP Dhillon in little black dress, netizens react
What is 'phrogging'? The bizarre reality strangers in your house, know more about it here
SHOCKING! Family relies on Google maps to reach Goa, ends up in..., here's what happened
Jaishankar responds to Trump's threat to BRICS nations: 'India has no interest in...'
Viral video: Little girl’s adorable dance to Janhvi Kapoor’s ‘Chuttamalle’ wins hearts, WATCH
Nita Ambani owns world’s most expensive shawl, it costs Rs…
Meet woman, DU graduate, who left Azim Premji's Rs 311000 crore company after 3 years due to...