ONKAR SINGH / Chandigarh
Ruling Congress swept the three municipal corporations of Amritsar, Jalandhar and Patiala result of which was declared today. Opposition SAD-BJP alleged misuse of official machinery in the elections.
The results come as a boost for the Amarinder Singh led government in the state. The opposition alliance, however, alleged gross poll code violations and demanded countermanding of the Patiala corporation elections.
Polling was also held in 29 municipal councils and nagar panchayats today, amid tight security arrangements.
Among the three municipal corporations, Patiala registered the highest poll percentage of over 62.22 per cent followed by Jalandhar at 57.2 and Amritsar at 51 per cent while the voting percentage in the municipal councils and nagar panchayats ranged between 60-86 per cent.
The Congress has convincingly won Jalandhar, Patiala and Amritsar Municipal Corporations and was ahead in most of the Nagar Panchayats and Municipal Councils.
It bagged 66 out of 80 wards in Jalandhar and won 58 of the total 60 wards in Patiala. In Amritsar Municipal Corporation, Congress clinched 69 out of 85 wards, BJP 6, SAD 6, Independent 4.
The SAD criticised the State Election Commission for allegedly favouring the ruling party. “The commission behaved as if it was scared of the government,” Akali Dal and its alliance partner BJP alleged.