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Amid clashes, booth capturing, Punjab sees 48% turnout in rural elections

Elections were held to elect members of 347 zones of 22 zila parishads and 2,838 zones of 153 panchayat samitis, for which more than 9,000 candidates are in the fray, officials said.

Written by: Kanchan Vasdev, Kamaldeep Singh Brar

6 min readAmritsar, Chandigarh, JalandharDec 15, 2025 04:26 AM IST

Amid clashes, booth capturing, Punjab sees 48% turnout in rural elections

Residents wait for their turn to cast vote at a polling booth

A voter turnout of 48.40 per cent was recorded in the zila parishad and panchayat samiti elections in Punjab Sunday, amid reports of violence, booth capturing, and clashes, which prompted the State Election Commission (SEC) to order repoll at 15 polling booths on December 16. Elections were held to elect members of 347 zones of 22 zila parishads and 2,838 zones of 153 panchayat samitis, for which more than 9,000 candidates are in the fray, officials said.

The polling began at 8 am and continued till 4 pm. The counting of votes will take place on December 17. No loss of life or major clash was reported from anywhere, the SEC said in a statement. The re-poll has been ordered in booth numbers 52,53,54 and 55 in Block Samiti Attari, zone no 8 in Khasa village, and booth numbers 90,91,93,94,95 in zone number 17 in Varpal Kalan village in Amritsar district.

In Block Samiti Chananwal (zone number 4), in Raisar village in Patiala, re-poll has been ordered in booth number 20. In district Barnala, in Babania village, booth number 63 and 64 will be going to repolls. In Muktsar district, re poll has been ordered in booth numbers 21 and 22 in Madhir village in Gidderbaha.

In Chanhiya village in Gurdaspur, booth station 124, will go to re-poll. For Panchayat Samiti Bhogpur in Jalandhar, repoll has been ordered in booth number 72. Re-poll will be held on December 16 and counting will be taken up alongwith general counting on December 17, the State Election Commissioner Raj Kamal Chaudhuri said.

Earlier, reports of lapses were received from several places like Bhairo Harni, Saidpur Harni, Haveli Harni, Raichak, Faizulla Chak and Mallian Faikran of Kahnuwan Zone number 9, where voters were wrongly issued ballot papers meant for Tibber Zone number 8, resulting in a delay of nearly two hours in polling. Leader of opposition Partap Singh Bajwa also accused the SEC of not acting. “Despite repeated representations, the SEC chose to look the other way, showing shocking insensitivity towards voters’ rights,” he said.

The SAD also claimed that many of their workers have been injured at Qazikot in Tarn Taran, Talwandi Dasondha Singh in Majitha, Naushehra Majasingh in Batala, Kingra in Malout, Madhir and Babania in Gidderbaha and at Dharamkot.

“The low voter turnout across Punjab is not accidental, but a direct consequence of Manish Sisodia’s ‘Saam, Daam, Dand, Bhed’ model being openly replicated in the state. When people witness pressure, manipulation, intimidation and blatant misuse of the administration, they lose faith in the sanctity of elections. Choosing not to vote becomes a silent protest against a police-managed and compromised electoral process under the AAP government,” Bajwa said, adding that it was a vote of no-confidence against the government.

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SAD spokesperson Daljit Cheema said that they will approach the Governor and appeal to him to take action in the matter besides taking legal recourse. He added that it was for the first time in the history of the state that a ruling party had captured booths by using arms and attacked opposition workers and indulged in widespread rigging. “The SEC has not only failed to conduct the Panchayati Raj institution elections fairly but has become a hatchet of the AAP. This has eroded faith of Punjabis in grass root democracy and urgent corrective steps are needed to rectify this situation”.

Neel Garg, senior spokesperson of AAP had earlier said that it was too early to say it was a low turn-out. “It is still being calculated. Why are you jumping the gun like the opposition parties. The compilation from all districts will continue till tomorrow. It is too early to reach any conclusion,” Garg had said. He was, however, not available for comments later.

An AAP leader on condition of anonymity said that people have lost interest in the rural elections. That is why they did not turn up, “If you ask me, we were finding it difficult to even field candidates. They were not even interested in contesting. We had to force them to file their nomination papers,” said a ruling party leader.

Chaudhuri also wrote to DGP Gaurav Yadav and said that the public perception of police was affected after the Patiala SSP Varun Sharma episode.

Incidents of violence

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In Khasa Block of Amritsar, the SEC was forced to cancel polling at four booths after it was found that the AAP candidate’s election symbol was printed incorrectly on the ballot papers. In the Kathunangal area’s Talwandi Dasandha Singh village, incumbent sarpanch Jatinder Singh faced accusations of hooliganism. Tension escalated when the sarpanch and his men allegedly removed the turban of a local resident named Jugraj Singh and attempted to attack him.

In Rajasansi’s Mahimadpura village, a dispute over a voter’s misplaced identity card spiraled into a physical confrontation between the AAP and SAD workers . The argument intensified when polling agents demanded an Aadhaar card, leading to stone-pelting between the two groups that halted the voting process for approximately thirty minutes .

In Patti constituency of Tarn Taran, Congress workers staged a protest outside a polling booth in Shaheed village. They alleged that AAP activists had forcibly snatched ballot papers from the polling staff.

In Gidderbaha, the SAD lodged a formal complaint with the SEC against Sunny Dhillon, the brother of AAP MLA Hardeep Singh Dimpy Dhillon, accusing him of capturing a booth in Bamaniya village with help from police officers. Opposition leaders claimed that CCTV cameras were broken and voters were intimidated, while Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring asserted that polling agents were ejected from the booth to facilitate fraudulent voting for half an hour . In a separate incident in Bathinda’s Talwandi Sabo, former SAD Zila Parishad member Gurpratap Singh was severely injured in a mob attack at Fatehgarh Nau Abad village. Singh, who was hospitalized with a serious leg injury, claimed that over 100 people attacked him when he resisted their attempts to capture the booth during the final phase of voting . Gurdaspur district also witnessed skirmishes and recovery of contraband.

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However, polling was peacefully across the Doaba region, covering Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Nawanshahr and Kapurthala districts.

—With inputs from Anju Agnihotri Chaba in Jalandhar

Kanchan Vasdev

Kanchan Vasdev is a Senior Assistant Editor in The Indian Express’ Punjab bureau. She is a highly experienced journalist with 22 years of expertise covering high-stakes politics, governance, and social issues in Northern India. Professional Background Role: Primary reporter covering the Punjab Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), government policies, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leadership in the state. Experience: She previously worked with The Tribune and has played a key role in launching various city editions. Special Projects: Abandoned Brides: Authored a monograph on brides abandoned by NRIs as part of the Prabha Dutt Memorial Fellowship. Environment: Worked as a Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) fellow, focusing on the pollution levels in the Satluj river. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reporting focuses on the legislative strategies and political maneuvers of the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government: 1. Legislative & Governance Standoffs "Punjab govt advances special Assembly session to pass resolution against VB-G RAM G Bill" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the state's move to block the Centre's "Viksit Bharat" mission, which the state claims will undermine MGNREGA. "Punjab govt doubles down on special sessions, sixth in January" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing the AAP government's use of special sessions as a legislative tool amid tensions with the Governor. "Punjab asks 'VIP teachers' working near Chandigarh to go back to border districts" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on CM Mann's move to end the practice of influential teachers avoiding postings in remote areas. 2. Political Analysis & Rural Polls "Punjab rural polls: Why Akalis are likened to dinosaurs in Punjab" (Dec 19, 2025): Analyzing CM Bhagwant Mann's rhetoric against the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) following local body elections. "AAP claims win in 78% Punjab zila parishads as counting continues" (Dec 18, 2025): Breaking down the results of the 2025 rural elections. "Rahul Gandhi and Sidhu alike, says Bhagwant Mann" (Dec 13, 2025): Covering the CM's critique of the Congress leadership. 3. Law Enforcement & Bureaucracy "Suspended Punjab IPS officer Ravjot Kaur Grewal awaits reinstatement" (Dec 10, 2025): Investigative reporting on the bureaucratic red tape involving the Election Commission and the state government. "Punjab declines to give parole to Amritpal Singh" (Nov 27, 2025): Detailing the state government's refusal to grant parole to the radical preacher and sitting MP. 4. Welfare & Economy "Punjab government's plan to add more freebies to 'atta-dal' scheme hits funds roadblock" (Dec 4, 2024): An analysis of the fiscal challenges facing the state's flagship food security program. "Mann leads Punjab delegation to Japan and South Korea for investor outreach" (Dec 2, 2025). Signature Beat Kanchan Vasdev is known for her insider access to Punjab's political executive. Her writing provides deep insights into how state policies are formulated and the friction points between the state government and central authorities. Her dual expertise in environment and law allows her to report on complex issues like the "Farmhouse Policy" (Dec 18, 2025) and river pollution with a unique policy-oriented lens. X (Twitter): @kanchan99 ... Read More

Kamaldeep Singh Brar

Kamaldeep Singh Brar is a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express, primarily covering Amritsar and the Majha region of Punjab. He is one of the publication's key reporters for stories involving the Akal Takht, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), and the sensitive socio-political issues of the border districts. Core Beats & Specializations Religious & Panthic Affairs: He has deep expertise in the internal workings of the Akal Takht and SGPC, frequently reporting on religious sentences (Tankhah), Panthic politics, and the influence of Sikh institutions. National Security & Crime: His reporting covers cross-border drug smuggling, drone activities from Pakistan, and the activities of radical groups. Regional Politics: He is the primary correspondent for the Majha belt, covering elections and political shifts in Amritsar, Tarn Taran, and Gurdaspur. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His work in late 2025 has been centered on judicial developments, local body elections, and religious controversies: 1. Religious Politics & Akal Takht "Akal Takht pronounces religious sentences against former Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh" (Dec 8, 2025): Covering the historic decision to hold the former Jathedar guilty for granting a pardon to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in 2015. "YouTube suspends SGPC’s channel for a week over video on 1984 Army action" (Nov 20, 2025): Reporting on the digital friction between global tech platforms and Sikh religious bodies. "As AAP govt grants Amritsar holy tag, a look at its fraught demand" (Nov 28, 2025): An analytical piece on the long-standing demand for declaring Amritsar a "holy city" and its political implications. 2. Crime & National Security "Mostly Khalistanis on Amritpal’s hit list: Punjab govt to High Court" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on the state government's claims regarding jailed MP Amritpal Singh orchestrating activity from prison. "Punjab man with links to Pakistan’s ISI handlers killed in encounter" (Nov 20, 2025): Detailing a police operation in Amritsar involving "newly refurbished" firearms likely sent from across the border. "15 schools in Amritsar get bomb threat emails; police launch probe" (Dec 12, 2025): Covering the panic and police response to mass threats against educational institutions. 3. Political Analysis & Elections "AAP wins 12 of 15 zones in SAD stronghold Majitha" (Dec 19, 2025): Highlighting a significant shift in the 2025 rural elections where the Akali Dal lost its grip on a traditional fortress. "Tarn Taran bypoll: woman faces threats after complaining to CM Mann about drug menace" (Nov 9, 2025): A ground report on the personal risks faced by citizens speaking out against the illegal drug trade in border villages. "AAP wins Tarn Taran bypoll, but SAD finds silver lining" (Nov 14, 2025): Analyzing the 2025 assembly by-election results and the surprising performance of Independents backed by radical factions. 4. Human Interest "Two couples and a baby: Punjab drug addiction tragedy has new victims" (Nov 20, 2025): A tragic investigative piece about parents selling an infant to fund their addiction. "Kashmiri women artisans debut at Amritsar’s PITEX" (Dec 8, 2025): A feature on financial independence initiatives for rural women at the Punjab International Trade Expo. Signature Beat Kamaldeep is known for his nuanced understanding of border dynamics. His reporting often highlights the "drug crisis in the underprivileged localities" (like Muradpur in Tarn Taran, Nov 9, 2025), providing a voice to marginalized communities affected by addiction and administrative neglect. X (Twitter): @kamalsbrar ... Read More

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