Independent candidate Paramjit Singh Bakhshi secured a decisive victory in Ward No. 13 of the Nawanshahr Municipal Council, winning by a margin of over 200 votes. The contest was closely watched after Ward No. 13 became a flashpoint for the election’s only reported instance of polling-day tension.
Tensions flared at a Ward No. 13 polling booth on Tuesday as Independent candidates Paramjit Singh Bakhshi and Makhan Singh Grewal engaged in a heated verbal altercation. The dispute reportedly erupted outside the booth over allegations of voter influence.
Supporters of both candidates soon gathered at the spot, escalating tensions further. The police personnel had to intervene promptly, separating the two leaders and moving them away from the polling area to prevent any untoward incident.
Following his victory, Bakhshi thanked residents of the ward for reposing faith in him. Speaking to mediapersons, the BA, LLB graduate and former Bar Association president said, “Last term, my wife served our community. Today, I am honoured that voters have placed their trust in me. I am deeply grateful for their support. My first priorities are clear. We will finally remove the massive garbage dump troubling our residents and complete development projects left unfinished. Work will begin now.”
Ward No. 13 had already become a focal point during the elections due to civic issues highlighted by residents. Earlier, concerns over heaps of garbage, foul smell, swarms of flies and poor sanitation had dominated public discussions in the area.
At Pole Star Public School in Teachers Colony, one of Nawanshahr’s oldest planned residential areas where polling was held — residents had voiced frustration over long-standing sewerage, water supply and garbage disposal problems, making civic neglect a major election issue in the ward.
