Repoll peaceful, all set for counting today

Tribune News Service

Patiala, September 21

Amid high security, repolling at Bakshiwala and Khuda villages for the zila parishad and panchayat samiti elections went peacefully here on Friday. 

According to the District Electoral Officer, 50.99 per cent voter turnout was recorded at Bakshiwala village, while 77.21 per cent voters exercised their franchise at Khuda village.

No untoward incident took place as the district administration had made high security and videography arrangements at the polling stations. Tarun Garg, observer at Bakshiwala booth, said, “With no incident of bogus voting, polling in the village passed off peacefully.” 

Repolling was ordered at Bakshiwala after a live-stream of booth capturing by Akali leaders was reported. Akali leaders had alleged that personal assistant of Cabinet Minister Brahm Mohindra allegedly locked doors of the polling booth and cast votes for the Congress candidates.

In Khuda village, Sukhdeep Singh, a resident of Fatehpur Rajputan, reportedly entered a polling booth and ran away with ballot papers during the rural elections on Wednesday. Later, the Patiala police booked the accused for obstructing a public servant from discharging his duty. 

The fate of 472 candidates will be decided on Saturday. The counting of votes for 25 zones of zila parishad and 193 zones of panchayat samiti will begin at 8 am. 

District Electoral Office Kumar Amit said all security measures had been taken and heavy police force would be deployed at the counting centres.