Around 46% of the over 51 lakh eligible voters in Haryana turned up to cast their votes in the civic body elections held on Sunday. Officials noted that the polling process remained peaceful throughout the day. Voters elected mayors and ward members for seven municipal corporations—Gurugram, Manesar, Faridabad, Hisar, Rohtak, Karnal, and Yamunanagar. Additionally, bypolls were conducted for the mayoral positions in Ambala and Sonipat. The voting took place from 8 AM to 6 PM, with officials mentioning that the final turnout percentage could slightly rise after complete data collection.

Elections were also held for municipal councils in Ambala Sadar, Pataudi Jatoli Mandi, Thanesar, and Sirsa, along with a bypoll for the Sohna Municipal Council president’s post. Similarly, voting was conducted for presidents and ward members in 21 municipal committees, including bypolls for the president’s posts in Assandh (Karnal district) and Ismailabad (Kurukshetra district).

Ahead of the elections, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini expressed confidence in the BJP’s victory, emphasizing the potential for accelerated development under a "triple-engine" government—referring to BJP governance at the Centre, in the state, and in urban local bodies. Meanwhile, the Congress urged voters to support its candidates with a strong mandate, hoping to regain political ground in the state after over a decade out of power.

Prominent leaders, including former Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, Union Minister Krishan Pal Gurjar, and Haryana Minister Anil Vij, were among the early voters. Vij encouraged all voters to participate in "the greatest festival of democracy," reiterating that BJP's control over urban bodies would speed up development efforts.

While some regions witnessed a high voter turnout, others saw lower participation. Gurugram recorded over 40%, whereas Manesar saw 65%, and Sohna remained at 35.3%. Sonipat had a low turnout of 29%, while Rohtak stood at 53%. Several areas, including Jakhal Mandi in Fatehabad (85.2%), Julana in Jind (70.9%), and Narnaund in Hisar (82.7%), recorded strong participation.

Polling faced a brief delay in Gurugram’s ward number 5 due to an electronic voting machine (EVM) malfunction, but officials ensured smooth conduct afterward. Haryana State Election Commissioner Dhanpat Singh highlighted that elaborate security and administrative arrangements were in place to ensure free and fair elections.

A total of 39 candidates contested for mayoral posts across nine municipal corporations, while 27 vied for president positions in five municipal councils. Additionally, 151 candidates competed for president roles in 23 municipal committees. Some candidates were elected unopposed in various wards, including Faridabad, Gurugram, Karnal, and Yamunanagar. The Panipat Municipal Corporation election is scheduled for March 9, with vote counting for all elections set for March 12.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from PTI.