Panchayat elections ended in Punjab, clashes and firing in many places

The panchayat elections in Punjab concluded today, but polling was marred by clashes and firing incidents at several locations across the state. At Khuda village near Sanour in Patiala district, one person was reported injured after shots were fired during a dispute near a polling booth.

In multiple districts, there were allegations of booth capture and intimidation by supporters of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), prompting police intervention in some areas to maintain order.

This year’s elections were held under the backdrop of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s appeal to hold non-partisan and unanimous panchayat elections without the use of party symbols. However, a large number of candidates chose to contest the polls independently, rejecting the chief minister’s call for consensus-based village leadership.

Observers say the elections once again highlight the deep-rooted political competition in rural Punjab, where local governance contests often reflect broader rivalries among major political parties.