Polling 56.83%, largely peaceful

Minna Zutshi

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, September 19

Ludhiana district witnessed 56.83 percent polling in the Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections held on Wednesday. The polling in 25 zones of Zila Parishad and 236 zones of Panchayat Samiti was completed, by and large peacefully. There were allegations of booth-capturing and rigging in some villages.

The polling started on a slow note, with barely 8.20% till 10 am and picked pace as the day progressed. In villages like Salempura, age had not dimmed the enthusiasm of octogenarians and even voters aged 90-plus.

Doraha, Khanna, Malaud, Samrala, Sidhwan Bet Blocks recorded more than 60 percent polling, with Malaud registering the maximum polling with 66.57 per cent. The lowest polling percentage was witnessed at Ludhiana-1 Block.

At 15 zones of Panchayat Samiti Dehlon, 55.92% polling was recorded. For 17 zones of Panchayat Samiti Doraha 64.66% polling was registered. For 25 zones of Panchayat Samiti Jagraon the voter turnout was 55.98%, while for 15 zones of Panchayat Samiti Khanna it was 62.62%. The polling for 25 zones of Ludhiana-1 was only 50%. The 25 zones of Ludhiana-2 saw 51.72% polling. For 16 zones of Machhiwara the voter turnout was 59.29%, while for 15 zones of Malaud it was 66.57%. The polling percentage for 16 zones of Pakhowal was 56.19%. For 15 zones of Raikot, the voter turnout was 54.08%, while for 15 zones of Samrala it was 63.18%. The 15 zones of Sidhwan Bet witnessed a voter turnout of 64.90%. For 22 zones of Panchayat Samiti Sudhar, the polling percentage was 54.86%.