Haryana Local Body Elections Underway, Voting in 33 Municipal Bodies

Chandigarh- The local body elections in Haryana commenced on Sunday, with voters turning out early at several polling stations across the state. Among the early voters was Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, who cast his vote in Karnal.

Speaking to the media after voting, Khattar emphasized the importance of local governance, stating, “Local governance is a crucial pillar of democracy. Whether in Lok Sabha or Vidhan Sabha elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has consistently achieved success. In the past two municipal elections in Karnal, the BJP has performed exceptionally well, securing a substantial share of votes.”

Polling is being conducted in 33 municipal bodies, including eight municipal corporations, 21 municipalities, and four municipal councils. Several elderly voters were seen casting their votes enthusiastically, particularly at booth number 179 in Rohtak.

According to the Election Commission, voting began at 8 am and will continue until 6 pm. The results are scheduled to be declared on March 12. The elections are taking place for mayoral and ward councillor positions in seven key municipal corporations — Gurugram, Manesar, Faridabad, Hisar, Rohtak, Karnal, and Yamunanagar. Additionally, polling is being held for the mayoral posts in Ambala and Sonepat, following the election of former mayors Shakti Rani Sharma (Ambala) and Nikhil Madan (Sonepat) to the state Assembly.

A total of 39 candidates are contesting for mayoral positions across eight municipal corporations. However, voting for the Panipat Municipal Corporation is scheduled separately for March 9, with campaigning set to conclude by 6 pm on March 7.

Apart from municipal corporations, elections are also being held for the posts of president and ward members in municipal councils of Ambala Sadar (Ambala Cantt), Pataudi Jatoli Mandi (Gurugram), Thanesar (Kurukshetra), and Sirsa. Additionally, polling is being conducted for the president’s post in the municipal councils of Sohna (Gurugram), Assandh (Karnal), and Ismailabad (Kurukshetra), while 21 municipal committees will also elect their presidents and ward members.

In Gurugram district, polling is underway in five municipal areas, including the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram, Municipal Corporation of Manesar, and the municipal councils of Sohna, Pataudi, and Farrukhnagar. District Magistrate-cum-District Election Officer Ajay Kumar confirmed that polling teams had taken charge at 1,109 polling stations across the district to ensure smooth voting.

The elections are being closely watched as they will set the tone for upcoming political contests in the state.