Chandigarh, December 17, 2017: Initial trends in counting of votes for Municipal polls in Punjab has shown Congress candidates ahead of Akali-BJP rivals across the state.
As the results poured in, Congress candidates were declared elected on 12 wards in Nagar Panchayat, Shahkot in Jalandhar district. Its candidates won 10 out of 12 wards in Nagar Panchayat Dirba, Sangrur district.
As many as 11 wards were in the Congress kitty in Narot Jaimal Singh in Gurdaspur district.
The Congress maintained the similar winning streak in Sahnewal, Ludhiana district where its candidates were declared winners in 4 wards so far.
Its candidates also registered victories in Handiaya and Bhikhi in Barnala and Mansa districts.
The Akali-BJP combine, however, alleged rigging and booth capturing by the Congress candidates with the help of police.
Punjab Congress president and Gurdaspur MP Sunil Jakhar, on the other hand, blamed Akalis and BJP for attempts to scuttle polls allegedly through violence and threats.
He also thanked Punjab voters and Congress workers for the smooth polling.
Voting was held on Sunday for 3 Municipal Corporations of Jalandhar, Patiala and Amritsar besides 29 Nagar Panchayats and Nagar Councils across the state.
The voting closed at 4 pm and the counting of votes is in progress.