The elections and bypolls for Urban Local Bodies and Panchayati Raj Institutions in Haryana concluded peacefully on Sunday, with an overall voter turnout of 54.5% recorded across the state.
Except for minor skirmishes and allegations levelled by rival political parties at some places, polling remained largely peaceful, according to the Haryana State Election Commission.
Polling was conducted for the Municipal Corporations of Ambala, Panchkula and Sonepat, the Municipal Council of Rewari, and the Municipal Committees of Dharuhera, Sampla and Uklana.
Additionally, byelections for several wards in different urban local body areas were also held successfully.
According to official figures, out of a total of 8,73,177 voters, around 4,75,948 exercised their franchise in the elections.
Simultaneously, general and byelections under the Panchayati Raj Institutions were conducted in various districts for the posts of Zila Parishad members, Panchayat Samiti members, Sarpanches and Panches.
Although polling officially ended at 6 pm, voters standing in queues at polling stations were allowed to cast their votes thereafter. The Election Commission had established 817 polling stations across the state.
State Election Commissioner Devender Singh Kalyan visited several polling stations in Panchkula to review voting arrangements, security measures and voter facilities.
Among all civic bodies, Rohtak recorded the highest turnout of 79.2%. Out of 15,624 voters, nearly 12,372 exercised their franchise.
Hisar followed with 75.5% polling in the election for the chairperson and ward members of the Uklana Municipal Committee. Out of 15,507 voters, 11,744 cast their votes.
Rewari registered a voter turnout of 66.1%, with 92,783 votes polled out of 1,40,333 eligible voters.
However, tension prevailed briefly at a Government Senior Secondary School in Rewari after a person allegedly attempted to cast a fraudulent vote. Police later took the person into custody. In another incident, Congress chairperson candidate Kumari Raj in Dharuhera accused the BJP of indulging in “vote for cash”.
In Ambala, 54.4% voter turnout was recorded. A total of 1,07,790 votes were polled out of 1,98,224 voters to decide the fate of 65 candidates contesting for 20 ward seats and three mayoral candidates — BJP’s Akshita Saini, Congress nominee Kulwinder Kaur and Independent candidate Sonia Rani.
Sources said Congress supporters also staged a protest outside a polling station in Ward No. 8, alleging suspicious credentials of a woman voter who reportedly fled the spot.
Panchkula recorded 52.7% polling, with 1,09,393 voters exercising their franchise out of 2,07,444 eligible electors.
In Sonepat, voter turnout remained comparatively low at 47.9%. Out of 2,96,045 eligible voters, 1,41,866 cast their votes to elect the Mayor and 22 councillors of the Municipal Corporation.
The fate of 98 candidates, including nine mayoral aspirants and 89 councillor candidates, has now been sealed in the electronic voting machines (EVMs).
