Over 57 per cent polling in Chandigarh Municipal polls

Chandigarh: Over 57 per cent voters on Sunday exercised their franchise for 25 wards of Chandigarh Municipal Corporation, the polling to which passed off peacefully even as repolling will take place in one ward tomorrow.
“Over 57 per cent voters have exercised their franchise. The polling was peaceful,” Tarseem Lal, an election office spokesman said here after conclusion of polls. He said that in one of the ward Maloya, repolling will be held on Monday.
He, however, did not give the reason behind repolling in the ward. The total number of voters are 5,07,627, including 2,37,374 female voters. 800 EVMs were used at 445 polling booths and over 4,000 cops were deployed for smooth conduct of polling process.
122 candidates, including 67 Independents, are in the fray for the civic polls. The results will be declared on December 20. Both Congress and BJP are contesting from all 26 wards, while BSP has also put up candidates in the fray from 17 wards.
The Municipal Corporation has 36 members, of which 26 are elected councillors, nine are nominated councillors 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”.
Post demonetisation, the election to 26 wards of Chandigarh Municipal Corporation is a litmus test for both BJP and Congress. (PTI)