Bathinda: The municipal corporation, council, and nagar panchayat elections across Punjab's Malwa region on Tuesday were marked by clashes, scuffles, and allegations of intimidation, with rival parties trading charges at multiple locations. Incidents were reported from Bathinda, Barnala, Moga, and nearby towns. As many as 103 municipal bodies went to polls in the state, with counting scheduled for May 29.
Bathinda Municipal Corporation
Clashes between the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) were reported from multiple wards during polling and late on Monday night. In Ward No. 2, AAP and BJP workers clashed, prompting BJP leaders led by district president Sarup Chand Singla to stage a protest outside Bathinda Cantt police station. AAP workers also gathered there, leading to sloganeering by both sides.
In Ward No. 3, supporters of AAP MLA Jagroop Singh Gill assembled after he accused party functionary Amarjit Singh Mehta and former mayor's son Padamjit Mehta of orchestrating an attack on his workers. Vehicles belonging to his supporters were allegedly damaged after they objected to suspected cash distribution among voters. Gill approached the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) seeking action, while Amarjit Singh Mehta denied the charges. Tension also flared in Ward No. 8, where police intervened to defuse the situation.
Barnala Clashes
In Barnala, a clash erupted in Ward No. 15 between AAP and BJP workers. Jasbir Singh, husband of BJP candidate Deepinder Kaur, was allegedly attacked, his turban dislodged, and he sustained head injuries. He was later hospitalized. BJP district president Yadwinder Shunty accused AAP of 'goondagardi' (hooliganism), a charge the ruling party denied.
Another confrontation in Barnala's Ward No. 33 saw supporters of an independent candidate alleging bogus voting by AAP workers, an accusation refuted by AAP candidate Chaman Lal Chatri. Clashes were also reported in Ward No. 19, with Akali Dal members accusing AAP MLA Hardeep Singh Dimpy Dhillon of instigating violence, an allegation he denied.
Other Incidents
Similar incidents were reported from Malout's Ward No. 23, Maur Mandi (Ward No. 5), Moga (Ward No. 41), and Kot Ise Khan (Ward No. 7), with rival parties trading blame over violence and attempts to influence voters. The situation remained tense in several areas, with police deployed to maintain order.
