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          Parishad                                                Panchayat  

          AAP- 45                                                     429

          Cong-10                                                     84 

         SAD-05                                                        94 

        BJP- 01                                                         03

       Others- 03                                                   49 

Chandigarh: Counting of votes for the Punjab Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections, held on Sunday, began on Wednesday morning across the state amid a charged political atmosphere and allegations of obstruction by Opposition parties. Initial indications of a result in favour of Congress in Ludhiana and Ferozepur districts.

The counting is underway at 154 centres across 141 locations. Since polling was conducted through ballot papers, officials of the State Election Commission said the process is expected to be time-consuming, with final results likely late in the night.

Over 9,000 Candidates in Fray

The fate of more than 9,000 candidates will be decided as votes are counted for 347 Zila Parishad seats and 2,838 Panchayat Samiti seats. With the Punjab Assembly elections just 14 months away, the local body polls are being viewed as a crucial political indicator, especially since all major parties contested on their official election symbols.

Opposition Alleges Obstruction

As counting began, Opposition parties alleged that their polling agents and workers were being prevented from reaching counting centres. In Patiala, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) workers accused AAP leaders of trying to prevent their agents from entering the counting centre on Nabha Road. No official response had been issued at the time of filing this report.

Delays Due to Weather in Malout

In Malout (Muktsar district), counting began nearly 45 minutes late due to dense fog. Malout SDM Jugraj Singh Kahlon said limited relaxation was granted to the counting staff due to weather conditions.

Cabinet Minister and Malout MLA Dr Baljit Kaur confirmed that counting began around 8.45 am and that the situation remained peaceful.

Early Trends Emerge

By mid-morning, early lead trends began emerging from districts such as Ludhiana and Ferozepur. However, officials cautioned that it was too early to draw conclusions given the scale of counting and the use of ballot papers.

High Political Stakes

Held in a politically charged environment, the local body elections are widely seen as a semi-final before the 2027 Assembly polls, with all parties keen to establish momentum and grassroots dominance. Security has been tightened around counting centres to ensure smooth proceedings as results continue to trickle in.