Over 21% polling recoded in Chandigarh Municipal polls till 1 PM

Around 21.08 per cent of voters have exercised their franchise till 1 PM on Sunday in election for 26 wards of Chandigarh Municipal Corporation.

Chandigarh, Dec 18: Around 21.08 per cent of voters have exercised their franchise till 1 PM on Sunday in election for 26 wards of Chandigarh Municipal Corporation where polling is going "smoothly".

"Till 1 PM, 21.08 per cent voters have exercised their franchise. The polling is going smoothly and peacefully," an election office spokesman said here.

The total number of voters is 5,07,627, including 2,37,374 female voters. 800 EVMs are being used at 445 polling booths and over 4,000 cops have been deployed for smooth conduct of polls.

122 candidates, including 67 Independents, are in the fray for the civic polls. Polling will end at 5 PM and the results will be declared on December 20. Congress and BJP are contesting from all 26 wards, while BSP has put up candidates in 17 wards.

The Municipal Corporation has 36 members, 26 of whom are elected councillors, nine are nominated and one is an MP (ex-officio member of the House). At present, BJP has 15 councillors, Congress has nine, BSP has one and one is Independent.

While the BJP is trying to cash in on demonetisation, Congress has made it a major issue with its city unit leaders saying the move was implemented without any "application of mind" as it has put the public to "great hardships".

PTI