Heat a dampener for Mohali MC poll turnout

Mohali: The fate of 695 candidates contesting local bodies elections across 166 wards in Mohali district was sealed in ballot boxes on Tuesday as polling concluded peacefully for the most part. However, sporadic incidents of tension and minor clashes between rival political supporters were reported.

Counting of votes will take place on May 29. Following completion of polling, ballot boxes were secured in eight designated strong rooms across the district. Two strong rooms have been set up in Mohali city, while one each has been established in Banur, Derabassi, Zirakpur, Kharar, Lalru and Kurali.

Polling for the MC elections in Mohali was conducted across 50 wards under tight security arrangements. Although a few tense situations were reported during the day, police personnel deployed at polling stations managed to maintain law and order.

Voting commenced at 8am, but initial response from voters remained sluggish due to the intense heat. In the first few hours, polling percentage remained low, with an average turnout of around 15% recorded by 11am across several wards.

By 10am, nearly 13.3% voting had been recorded in wards 1 to 50. The pace of polling improved gradually in the afternoon, pushing the turnout to 29.2% by noon. By 2pm, voting percentage had risen to 39.1%.

Officials estimated that the final turnout was likely to settle around 50.5%.

In the 2021 MC polls, Mohali district recorded a total turnout of 60.08% and the city recorded 55.5% votes.

In many wards, voters largely stayed indoors during the afternoon due to the scorching heat, resulting in comparatively moderate voter participation throughout the day.

Meanwhile, isolated incidents of confrontation between supporters of rival political parties were reported from different wards.

In ward no. 39, tension escalated between supporters of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), which nearly led to a clash at the polling booth. Police personnel intervened before the situation could worsen.

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) district president Parvinder Singh Sohana alleged that AAP supporters were attempting to capture the booth, which led to the confrontation. Senior police and administrative officials later reached the spot and brought the situation under control.

Another incident was reported from Ward No. 32, where supporters of AAP and Congress allegedly engaged in a scuffle. Clothes of a youth were allegedly torn during the scuffle, which police personnel could not prevent.

Reports of verbal arguments and minor confrontations between supporters of different candidates also emerged from wards 6, 15, 28 and 36.

Opposition leaders and candidates from several wards accused AAP of election rigging and misuse of administrative machinery. They claimed that the police and administration failed to take action and allowed ruling party supporters to move freely around polling stations.

Despite the allegations and isolated incidents, the district administration maintained that polling across Mohali district remained largely peaceful and orderly. Tight security arrangements were put in place at sensitive booths, and senior officers monitored the election process throughout the day.

Election fact file

DC/district election officer Komal Mittal said local govt elections were conducted peacefully

-- 2,63,031 voters exercised franchise; overall poll percentage recorded at 55.5%

-- DC said Mohali MC recorded 54.8% polling, Dera Bassi recorded 57.09%, Kurali registered 64.2%, Banur 72.86%, Zirakpur 48.2%, Nayagaon 58.2% and Lalru 69.3% voter turnout

--SSP Harmandeep Singh Hans reviewed security arrangements in various polling stations