Majitha municipal council elections witnessed a day full of tension, allegations and repeated recounting before the final results were officially declared around 4.30 pm here on Friday.
The electoral officials announced that the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) won six wards, while the AAP secured victory in five wards. However, the AAP had already won two wards unopposed earlier. With a total of seven councillors in the 13-member municipal council, the party managed to secure a majority in the Majitha Municipal Council.
The counting process remained controversial throughout the day. In a dramatic turn, Congress candidate Pradeep Kaur from Ward No. 7 came out of the counting centre in the afternoon and claimed that she had won the election and would soon receive her victory certificate. Congress workers even started celebrating the victory. But when the official result was declared in the evening, the AAP candidate was announced as the winner from Ward No. 7. Following this, Congress leaders led by Bhagwantpal Singh Sachar and Navdeep Singh Sona staged a protest outside the counting centre.
The Majitha Municipal Council election had become a prestige battle between senior Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia and AAP constituency in-charge Talbir Singh Gill. Majithia has traditionally enjoyed strong support in the constituency and his group earlier held a majority in the municipal council. After Majithia went to jail in the disproportionate assets case, Gill, once considered close to Majithia, joined the ruling party and strengthened his own political position in the area.
As the battle for political dominance intensified, both sides treated the election results as a matter of prestige. From around 12.30 pm onwards, Majithia repeatedly went live on social media and alleged irregularities and manipulation in the counting process. He claimed that despite SAD candidates securing more votes in Ward No. 1 and Ward No. 3, their votes were deliberately cancelled and AAP candidates were declared winners unfairly.
On the other hand, Gill rejected the allegations and said there was no interference from the government or any official in the counting process. However, election officials appeared confused during the day and were seen giving changing statements regarding the counting and results.
