Punjab local body polls LIVE: Voting for municipal bodies underway

Voting for Punjab’s municipal body elections commenced on 26 May 2026, covering 103 civic bodies—including eight municipal corporations, 75 councils, and 20 Nagar Panchayats—with polling set to conclude by 5 pm. A total of 7,555 candidates, including 1,801 from AAP, 1,550 from Congress, 1,316 from BJP, and 1,251 from SAD, are contesting across 1,896 wards. The Supreme Court earlier dismissed a challenge against the Punjab State Election Commission’s decision to use ballot papers, ensuring the process proceeds as planned. Security measures include 35,000 election personnel and 32,000 police officers deployed across 740 sensitive and 275 hyper-sensitive polling booths. The Punjab government declared 26 May a holiday to facilitate voter turnout, with all government offices and educational institutions in Chandigarh closed. Over 35.46 million voters, including 17.12 million women, are eligible to participate, marking the elections as a critical test for political parties ahead of the 2027 Assembly polls. AAP, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, faces re-election next year, while Congress, BJP, and SAD view the results as a barometer for their performance. Independent candidates and smaller parties like BSP also fielded nominees, with 1,528 independents contesting. Observers note the elections could influence political strategies, given their proximity to the state-wide polls. Voter turnout appeared strong, with queues forming early at polling booths, including in Pathankot and Batala. Cabinet ministers Aman Arora and Harjot Singh Bains urged citizens to vote, while BJP’s Ashwani Sharma and AAP’s Amansher Singh Sherry Kalsi cast their ballots publicly. Vote counting is scheduled for 29 May, with results expected to shape political narratives in Punjab.