Chandigarh, March 2: Voting for civic elections in Haryana witnessed nearly 15% voter turnout by noon today, as citizens cast their ballots to elect mayors and ward members across seven municipal corporations and several other municipalities.
Key Details of Haryana Municipal Elections
Voting commenced at 8 am and will continue until 6 pm. Elections are taking place simultaneously in seven municipal corporations:- Gurugram
- Manesar
- Faridabad
- Hisar
- Rohtak
- Karnal
- Yamunanagar
Citizens are also voting to elect presidents and ward members in four municipal councils:
- Ambala Sadar
- Pataudi Jatoli Mandi
- Thanesar
- Sirsa
Voting is simultaneously underway in 21 municipal committees, with bye-elections being held for the presidential posts in:
- Assandh (Karnal District)
- Ismailabad (Kurukshetra District)
Early Voting Updates
Union Minister and Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar was among the early voters, casting his ballot in Karnal. Khattar urged citizens to exercise their democratic right and described voting as "our democratic duty."Union Minister of State Krishan Pal Gurjar voted at a polling booth in Faridabad, while Haryana Minister Anil Vij cast his vote in Ambala Cantt, emphasizing the importance of participation in democracy.
Gurugram recorded a voter turnout of nearly 13% by noon. BJP Mayoral candidate from Manesar, Sunderlal Yadav, participated enthusiastically, noting that this was the first-ever municipal election held in the Manesar region.
Arrangements and Security
According to Gurugram Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Election Officer Ajay Kumar, a total of 1,109 polling booths were established across Gurugram district, covering Gurugram, Manesar, and Pataudi.Early morning voting experienced a slight disruption at Ward 5 in Gurugram Municipal Corporation due to an electronic voting machine (EVM) malfunction, causing approximately a one-hour delay. The issue was promptly resolved by deploying a new EVM, allowing voting to proceed smoothly.
Gurugram Police Commissioner Vikas Kumar Arora stated that more than 4,500 security personnel were deployed to ensure a peaceful and fair polling environment.
Haryana State Election Commissioner Dhanpat Singh assured voters of comprehensive arrangements to guarantee transparency and fairness. Singh revealed that:
- 39 candidates are contesting for the mayoral posts in nine municipal corporations.
- 27 candidates are competing for the presidency in five municipal councils.
- 151 candidates are vying for the presidency in 23 municipal committees.
Uncontested Elections
Several wards witnessed uncontested elections, where candidates were elected unopposed:- Faridabad: Ward No. 36
- Gurugram: Ward No. 22
- Karnal: Ward Nos. 8 and 11
- Yamunanagar: Ward No. 9
- Ambala Sadar Municipal Council: Ward No. 24
- Thanesar Municipal Council: Ward Nos. 7 and 32
Upcoming Schedule and Results
Polling for the Panipat Municipal Corporation is scheduled separately on March 9.Vote counting across all municipalities will begin at 8 am on March 12, with results expected the same day.
Ahead of the elections, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini expressed confidence in a BJP victory, emphasizing the formation of a "triple-engine" government for faster development. Meanwhile, the Congress has also appealed to voters for a decisive mandate.
