Punjab polls: Warring alleges foul play, claims 750 docs rejected

Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring has alleged that 750 documents of party candidates were rejected in the civic polls. CM Bhagwant Mann hailed AAP's massive win, claiming it's a mandate for development over divisive politics.

Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring has said that the party's performance in Municipal Corporation elections were praiseworthy and alleged that 750 documents of party candidates were rejected in the local body polls in the state. "The Municipal corporation elections have taken place in Patiala, Ludhiana, Amritsar and Jalandhar. Our performance in them was praiseworthy. 750 documents were rejected in Punjab. The AAP has won 595 seats. They contested unopposed in 80 seats. Meaning 595 plus 80. Those 80 are the seats where papers were rejected, and candidates won unopposed without a contest. They rejected the documents of our candidates," Warring said.

CM Mann Hails AAP's Resounding Mandate

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday said that even if the seats won by the BJP, Akali Dal, and Congress are combined, they can't equal that of AAP. Mann, who addressed a press conference, extended greetings to the people of Punjab on "rejecting those parties that seek to divide people along religious or caste lines." "I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to the people of Punjab. They have rejected the politics of hatred and have instead given a resounding mandate in favour of development. I wish to congratulate them for rejecting those parties that seek to divide people along religious or caste lines and recognise AAP's secular administration," he said.

He expressed confidence that Aam Aadmi Party will win around 1,000 seats. "If we combine the votes and seats of the Congress, Akali Dal, and BJP altogether, they still do not equal the Aam Aadmi Party. The Aam Aadmi Party will win around 1,000 seats. We have won 890 according to the latest information. The results for 150 are still pending," he said.

"More than 90% of the Municipal Councils and Nagar Panchayats have been won by the Aam Aadmi Party," he said.

Election Details

Counting of votes for the Punjab civic body elections began across multiple counting centres in the state amid elaborate security arrangements. Polling for 75 Municipal Councils and 20 Nagar Panchayats across Punjab was held on May 26.

A total of 7,555 candidates contested the elections for various Municipal Corporations, Municipal Councils and Nagar Panchayats in the state.

According to election officials, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had fielded 1,801 candidates, and Congress 1,550. They said Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had 1,316 candidates in the fray, and the Shiromani Akali Dal had fielded 1,251 candidates for the civic body polls. (ANI)

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