CHANDIGARH, May 10: A voter turnout of 47 per cent was recorded in the elections to seven municipal bodies and 528 Panchayati Raj posts in Haryana on Sunday, amidst reports of bogus voting, allegations of bribery, and opposition protests.
While polling officially concluded at 6 PM, the Election Commission allowed voters already present in queues to exercise their franchise. According to official data, Uklana municipal body recorded the highest turnout at 69 per cent, while Sonipat remained at the bottom with 40.2 per cent.
The polling process was marred by an incident in Rewari where a youth was apprehended for allegedly attempting to cast a fraudulent vote at a Government Senior Secondary School. Following a protest by rival candidates, the police took the individual into custody. During questioning, the youth reportedly claimed he was acting on the instructions of a local individual to vote in favor of the BJP. Police officials stated that an investigation is underway to identify the person mentioned by the suspect
Further allegations of electoral malpractice surfaced in Dharuhera, where Congress chairperson candidate Kumari Raj accused the ruling BJP of distributing cash. Raj alleged that BJP workers were handing out Rs 1,000 to voters and accused the administration of colluding with the ruling party to rig the election.
Similarly, in Ambala, Congress supporters staged a protest outside a booth in Ward 8, claiming that an unidentified woman with mismatched credentials was caught attempting to vote but fled before authorities could intervene. They also alleged that BJP workers were permitted to carry mobile phones inside polling stations in violation of EC guidelines.
The election also faced criticism over logistical arrangements, particularly for the elderly. In Uklana, a woman accompanying an 80-year-old voter accused security personnel of misconduct and failing to provide a wheelchair. She claimed that the staff told her to carry the elderly man inside themselves, citing a total lack of facilities for senior citizens.
While the results for the Panchayat by-elections are expected to be announced later tonight, the counting for the municipal polls is scheduled for May 13. In Sonipat and other regions, polling officials have completed the sealing of EVMs under heavy security.
(UNI)
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