Majitha witnessed a day marked by tension, allegations and repeated recounting before the final results of the municipal council elections were officially declared around 4.30 pm on Friday.
Election officials announced that the Shiromani Akali Dal won six wards, while the Aam Aadmi Party 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 succeeded in securing a majority in the Majitha municipal council.
The counting process remained controversial throughout the day. In a dramatic development, Congress candidate Pradeep Kaur from Ward No. 7 came out of the counting centre in the afternoon claiming she had won the election and would soon receive her victory certificate. Congress workers also began celebrating the alleged victory. However, when the official results were declared in the evening, the Aam Aadmi Party candidate was announced as the winner from Ward No. 7. Following the announcement, Congress leaders led by Bhagwantpal Singh Sachar and Navdeep Singh Sona staged a protest outside the counting centre. The Majitha municipal council election had turned into 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 was jailed in the disproportionate assets case, Talbir Singh Gill, once considered close to him, joined the ruling party and strengthened his own political position in the area.
As the battle for political dominance intensified, both camps treated the election results as a matter of prestige. From around 12.30 pm onwards, Bikram Singh Majithia repeatedly went live on social media and alleged irregularities and manipulation in the counting process. He claimed that despite Akali Dal candidates securing more votes in Ward No. 1 and Ward No. 3, their votes were deliberately cancelled and AAP candidates were unfairly declared winners. On the other hand, Talbir Singh Gill rejected the allegations and said there was no interference from the government or any official during the counting process. However, election officials appeared confused during the day and were seen issuing changing statements regarding the counting and results.
