Chandigarh, March 9
Continuing its victory march after Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections, the Congress today emerged victorious in a majority of civic bodies in Punjab which went to the polls in two phases.

The second phase of civic poll in Punjab today witnessed violence, booth capturing and arrests, even as nearly 75 per cent electorate exercised their franchise to elect 75 municipal councils and three nagar panchayats.

The ruling party has won in a majority of the towns where civic poll were conducted in the Majha and Doaba belts while the Opposition Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has so far only gained victory in Majitha in Amritsar district.

Earlier, the civic poll witnessed violence, booth-capturing and arrests, mainly in Ferozepore district, as about 75 per cent electorate cast their ballot to elect 75 municipal councils and three nagar panchayats in the second phase of the elections to the civic bodies.

The Punjab State Election Commission (PSEC) has orderd a repoll in two wards of the Jalalabad Municipal Council in Ferozepore district where four persons, including three women, were seriously injured in a firing incident when independent candidate Joginder Singh fired shots during a scuffle.

A case under sections 307 and 323 of the IPC and 25, 27 and 54 of the Arms Act has been registered against the independent candidate.

Reports of booth-capturing, burning of ballot papers and clashes among the candidates of the Congress, the BJP and rebel candidates of both parties poured in to the office of the Punjab State Election Commission (PSEC) here from Fazilka.

The State administration had deployed the Punjab Armed Police (PAP) and Punjab Police commandos to meet any eventuality in the sensitive areas of Ferozepore district, which included Jalalabad, Fazilka and Abohar.

In Jagraon, a DSP was assaulted in Ward No 1 of the Jagraon Municipal Council in Ludhiana district.

JALANDHAR: Congress candidates won maximum seats during elections to the six municipal councils and a municipal panchayat in the district for which results were declared today.

In Nurmahal results of wards are: 1 Mathra Dass (Congress); 2 Urmila Rani (Independent); 3 Tirath Ram Sandhu (Congress); 4 Shiv Kumar (Independent); 5 Gurmeet Kaur (Congress); 6 Balvir Chand (Independent); 7 Raj Kumar Sahota (Congress); 8 Jagdish Kaur (Independent); 9 Phuman Ram; 10 Sukhwinder Kaur; 11 Maninder Kaur (Independent); 12 Manmohan Sharma (Congress) and 13 Hans Raj (Independent).

In Phillauri results of wards are: 1 Raj Kumar (Congress); 2 Raj Kumari (Independent); 3 Jit Pal (Congress); 4 Rajesh Kumar (Independent); 5 Parveen (Congress); 6 Ashwani Kumar (Congress); 7 Raj Kumar (Independent); 8 Satish Rani (Independent); 9 Narinder Kumar (Congress); 10 Parmajeet Singh Atwal (Independent); 11 Santosh Rani (Independent); 12 Jaspal (Congress); 13 Jaspal Ginda (Congress); 14 Lakhvir Kaur (Independent);15 Rai Barinder (Independent).

In Lohian results of wards are: 1 Gurnam Singh (SAD); 2 Harjeet Kaur (Congress); 3 Chaman Lal (SAD); 4 Harbhajan Singh (Congress); 5 Simranjeet Kaur (Congress); 6 Surjeet Kaur (Congress); 7 Balwinder Singh (SAD); 8 Kashmir Kaur (Congress); 9 Gopal Singh (Congress); and 11 Surjeet Kaur (SAD).

In Adampur results of wards are: 1 Charanjit Singh; 2 Kaushalya Rani; 3 Mohinder Singh; 4 Om Parkash; 5 Kailash Wati; 6 Ram Parkash; 7 Ikbal Mahey; 8 Bhajan Kaur; 9 Hardeep Singh; 10 Pavittar Singh; 11 Anita Sharma; 12 Lakhbir Singh; and 13 Kabal Singh (All candidates are Independents).

In Alwalpur results of wards are: 1 Ram Nath; 2 Harnek Kaur; 3 Sukvir Kumar; 4 Kewal Krishan; 5 Krishna Devi; 6 Nand Kishore; 7 Vinod Kumar; 8 Parveen; 9 Roop Lal; 10 Jai Ram; 11 Pinki (All candidates are Independents)

In Kartarpur results of wards are: 1 Mohinder Singh Billu; 2 Gurjit Kaur; 3 O.P. Seth; 4 Ramnath; 5 Neelam Rani; 6 Gurmeet Singh; 7 Balkishan; 8 Gurbax Kaur; 9 Vijay Kohli; 10 Jaswinder; 11 Rachna; 12 Baldev Kishan; 13 Nirmal Singh; 14 Kiran Kumari and 15 Saroop Lal. (All candidates are Independents)

LUDHIANA: The Congress has swept the Municipal Committee elections held in Jagraon, Samrala and Raikot. The independent candidates supported by the party also won in the 11 wards of the Payal Municipal Committee. Except for the Jagraon Municipal Committee, where a considerable number of Independents also won, it was almost a cakewalk for the Congress in other three Municipal Committees.

In Raikote, the Congress won in 11 of the 15 wards. Four seats were won by the Independents. Similarly in Payal, where the party was not contesting on official symbol, but had supported the Independent, all of them won from the 11 segments. In Samrala, the Congress won 10 of the 13 seats, while two were won by the Independents.

In Jagraon, however, there was a tussle over the declaration of results as some independents supported by Mr Darshan Singh Brar also showed good performance. The Congress won only 10 of 19 seats and had won two unopposed earlier.

DHURI: The Congress emerged victorious in the Dhuri Municipal Council Elections. More than 75 per cent voters cast their votes for 16 of the 17 wards as Mr Kesar Singh of the Congress had already been declared elected unopposed on February 28, 2003. The Congress party had fielded its candidates for the 17 wards, won 11 seats and the remaining six seats have been won by independents. The sitting President of the MC Council, Mr Bhim Sain Jindal, had been declared elected consecutively for the fifth time.

PATHANKOT: Results of 33 wards have been declared. Among these the Congress has won 14 seats, the BJP 11 and independent candidates won eight seats.

FARIDKOT: The Congress achieved a major success by winning 14 out of 21 seats in the local municipal council poll, which completed here. Six seats have gone in the favour of Independents and one has been won by the Shiromani Akali Dal.

The winning candidates of the Congress include Mr Gurtej Singh Gill, Ms Amritbir Kaur, Ms Sonia Bansal, Ms Uma Grover, Ms Amarjeet Kaur, Mr Mohinder Singh Bhandari, Mr Joban Singh, Mr Tulsi Ram, Mr Baljit Singh Gora, Mr Ranjit Singh Khera, Mr Gurcharan Singh, Ms Sukhdeep Kaur, Mr Harwinder Pal Singh and Ms Jasbir Kaur.

The Independents include Mr Amar Kumar Binu, Mr Jagir Singh, Ms Manjit Kaur, Mr Harinder Kala, Ms Surinder Kaur and Mr Narinder Singh Ninda. Ms Balwinder Kaur Sekhon has won the lone seat for the SAD.

KAPURTHALA: The Congress has won 13 seats out of 23 in the House of the local municipal council in the election held here on Sunday. Of the 33 wards, the Congress won in 13 wards while the SAD-BJP, BSP (A) won eight seats while two seats were won by Independents.

The winners are: Mr Sudesh Kumar Aggarwal (Congress) ward No. 1; Sunita Sood (Congress) ward No. 2; Bakshish Singh Labha (Congress) ward No. 3, Chajja Singh (SAD) ward No. 4; Bhupinder Kaur Walia (SAD) ward No 5; Harwinder Singh Walia (Congress) ward no 6; Monica Goyal (SAD) ward No 7; Shashi Bala Gupta (Congress) ward No 8; Tarsem Lal (Congress) ward No 9; Hardial Singh Jheeta (Congress) ward No 10; Kamlesh Rani (Congress) ward No 11; Sham Sunder Aggarwal (BJP) ward No 12; Darshana Adia (Independent) ward No 13; Shaminder Kaur (SAD) ward No 14; Kulwant Singh Bhandari (Congress) ward No 15; Paramjit Singh (SAD) ward No 16; Neelam Sidhu (Congress) ward No 17; Joginder Singh Billu (Congress) ward No 18; Mohinder Kumar Aggarwal (Congress) ward No 19; Urmil Behal (BJP) ward No 20; Harbans Lal (BJP) ward No 21; Sukhjit Singh (Independent) ward No 22 and Neelam Mahajan (Congress) ward No 23.

BATHINDA: The most interesting result is of Bhucho Mandi where the President of the municipal council, Ms Santosh Garg, a candidate of the SAD (B) from Ward No. 2 could secure only one vote while her daughter-in-law contesting from the same ward was also defeated. Santosh Garg has filed nomination papers as covering candidate for her daughter-in-law but she had not withdrawn the papers. Congress candidates have won from nine wards while those of the SAD (B) has won from three while an Independent has won from one ward.

The Congress has won seven out of 11 wards of Municipal Council, Goniana, while three SAD (B) and one Independent candidate have also won.

SAD (B) candidates has got majority in the Kotfatta Municipal Council by winning nine out of 11 wards, while Congress candidates were successful in two wards. The President of Kotfatta Municipal Council, Mr Hartej Singh, has won election from Ward No. 8 while all other successful candidates are new faces.

In Rampura, Independents or the rebel candidates of the Congress, has won most of the seats. The Congress has been successful in six wards, while the SAD (B) and BJP could win only in one ward each. The Independents have won in nine wards. Polling in Ward No 4 was adjourned and the State Election Commission would announce new date soon.

KHARAR: Following are the results of the MC elections: Ward No. 2 — Dr Gurnam Singh; Ward No. 3 — Mr Ram Murti, Ward No. 4 — Ms Joginder Kaur, and Mr Ram Ratan Singh; 6 — Mr Sawaran Singh Heera, 7 — Ms Raghubir Kaur, 8 — Charanjeet Singh, 9 — Mr Roshan Lal, 10 — Ms Gurdeep Kaur, 12 — Mr Ranbir Singh Kala, 13 — Mrs Balvinder Kaur, 14 — Mr Om Prakash Sharma, 15 — Mr Jai Bhagwan Singla.

Meanwhile, a jubiliant Mrs Lakhwinder Kaur Garcha, OSD to the Punjab Chief Minister, claimed that out of total 14 results declared today, eight have been won by Congress workers and the party would elect its own President.

TARN TARAN: Eleven Independents won the municipal council elections, whereas the SAD could win five seats. The BJP won two seats and only one candidate of the Congress was declared elected in this 19-ward council.

The elected candidates include Mr Dalip Singh (Ward No 3), Mr Dalbir Singh (Ward No 4), Ms Kamaljit Kaur (Ward No 8), Mr Nirmal Singh (Ward No 9), Mr Manjit Singh Dhillon (Ward No 10), Ms Sawinder Kaur (Ward No 11), Mr Mukesh Sood (Ward No 12), Mr Baljit Singh Mahant (Ward No 13), Mr Jatinder Kumar Sood (Ward No 18), Mr Tarsem Preet Singh (Ward No 7), Ms Usha Rajpoot (Ward No 14), Dr Sukhdev Singh Laukha (Ward No 15), Mr Ram Singh (Ward No 16), Mr Jarmanjit Singh (Ward No 1), Mr Ararjit Singh Rajpoot (Ward No 6) and Ms Gurcharan Kaur Padhri (Ward No).

SANGRUR: Barring some minor incidents of altercation and quarrel between different groups on the polling of fake votes in the town, polling was held in a peaceful way in all 21 wards of the town.

The Congress got full majority in the local Municipal Council by winning 11 of the total 21 seats, while the SAD-BJP combine got four seats. Independents won in six wards.

The Congress candidates who won the municipal elections are: Mr Ranjit Singh, (Ward No. 1), Mr Harbans Singh Garcha (Ward No. 3), Mr Moti Lal (Ward No. 4), Mr Vinod Kumar Shammi (Ward No. 6), Ms Geeta Bala (Ward No. 11), Mr Jagwinder Kala (Ward No. 12), Mr Bimal Kumar Bansal (Ward No. 13), Mr Jagdev Singh Kaku (Ward No. 16), Mr Parminder Bajaj (Ward No. 18), Mr Krishan Garg (Ward No. 19) and Ms Anjana Rani (Ward No. 20). The winners of the SAD-BJP combine are: Mr Jatinder Kalra (Ward No. 9), Mr Surinder Singh Pappu (Ward No. 15), Ms Bhagwanti (Ward No. 17), and Mr Sajjan Ram (Ward No. 21).

Six Independents who have won the elections included Ms Jaswinder Kaur (Ward No. 2), Ms Simrat Rana (Ward No. 5), Mr Jagwinder Singh “Prince” (Ward No. 7), Ms Parminder Kaur (Ward No. 8) and Mr Amarjit Singh “Teetu” (Ward No. 10).

AMRITSAR: Violence marred the municipal council elections in Majitha constituency after the Congress and the Akali groups clashed at 1.30 p.m. here on Sunday. About 16 persons were injured after bricks, daangs and belts were used by both groups before the police intervened and lathi charged to disperse the crowd. Trouble started in kothi school that falls under Ward No. 10, where 14 persons received injury. The police was already deployed in strength as Mr Bhupinder Singh (Congress) and Mr Madan Lal (SAD) are sworn rivals. Meanwhile, in Ward No. 3 of Majitha one Kanwarjit Panna poured acid in the ballot box. Mr Guruwaryam Singh, Returning Officer, said the Election Commission had been apprised of situation.

Following are the results of MC poll according to the latest reports: Congress won 12 seats while one seat was won by an independent in Jandiala Guru. In Majitha six seats were won by the SAD and six by the Congress. All nine seats in Ramdass went to the Congress. In Patti, seven seats went to the Congress and seven to the SAD while one went to an independent.

Interestingly in Jandiala Guru Ward No. 2 Manjit Kaur of the Congress won by a toss as both candidates had garnered 472 votes each.

ZIRAKPUR: Winners of the Zirakpur Nagar Panchayat elections are: Ms Manish Malik from Ward 1, Mr Sham Lal from Ward 2, Mr Ajaib Singh from Ward 3, Ms Paramjit Kaur from Ward 4, Mr Bharat Bhoosan from Ward 5, Mr Narinder Sharma from Ward 6, Ms Harmesh Kaur from Ward 7, Mr Surinder Singh from Ward 8, Mr Nakshatra Singh from Ward 9, Ms Hardev Kaur from Ward 10, Mr Jaspal Singh from Ward 11, Mr Gurmail Singh from Ward 12, Ms Surinder Kaur from Ward 13, Mr Bhagwant Singh from Ward 14 and Mr Ashok Marhia from Ward 15.

KHANNA: The Congress sweeped the Payal and Samrala municipal council elections. It bagged all 11 seats at Payal while it won 10 seats at Samrala. Two seats were won by the SAD (Badal) and one by Independent candidate supported by the SAD (Badal).

The election were held at Payal on March 2 and at Samrala on March 9.

At Samrala poll percentage was 85 per cent.

At Payala candidates of the Congress won from Ward No. 1, Kewal Singh, Ward No 2 — Mr Gurmit Kaur, Ward No. 3 — Mr Nirmal Singh, Ward No. 4 — Mr Harbans Singh, Ward No. 8 Ms Harjit Kaur, Ward No. 9 — Malkiat Singh, Ward No. 10 — Mr Shiv Kumar, Ward No. 11 — Ms Kulwant Kaur.

In Samrala Congress got 10 seats SAD (B) two and independent one. Ward No. 1 — Jasvir Singh Jassi (Cong), Ward No. 2 — Satwant Kaur (Cong), Ward No. 3 — Bhupinder Singh (Cong), Ward No. 4 — Yogesh Sharma (Cong), Ward No. 5 — Harbans Kaur (SAD-B), Ward No. 6 — Somnath (Cong), Ward No. 7 — Jasgjiwan Sing (SAD-B), Ward No. 8 — Asha Rani (Cong), Ward No. 9 — Jeera Ram (Cong), Ward No. 10 — Mohinder Singh (Independent), Ward No. 13 — Amarjit Sing (Cong).

PATIALA: Polling in Rajpura saw Congressmen fighting with each other due to propping up of Independent candidates by legislator Raj Kumar Khurana against official Congress candidates.

While the Congress seemed comfortable in Nabha and Sanour Municipal Committees, it faced a drubbing in Samana where it could garner only six out of the 17 seats up for stake.

The issue of bogus voting remained at the centre stage during voting. Rajpura legislator Raj Kumar Khurana even made some Congress workers captive in Ward No 19 who were caught for bogus voting. Patiala Mayor Vishnu Sharma entered into a slanging match with Khurana even as the police resorted to a lathi charge to clear the booth. Congress workers also clashed with supporters of Khurana which resulted in a few people receiving head injuries. Three of the injured have been identified as Harinder Kumar, Om Prakash Wadhwa and Vinod Kumar Thakur.

The police also resorted to a lathi charge in ward Nos 20, 8 and 22.

Results of 20 out of the 25 seats which were declared saw Congress candidates winning 11 seats while Khurana’s men got six seats.

One seat was won by an Independent. Khurana’s main opponent in the Congress, Rajinder Raja, defeated rebel Congress man Dinesh Thakur in ward No 19.

Meanwhile, in elections to the Samana Municipal Committee, the Congress has received a drubbing at the hands of its own workers, few of whom had stood for election as Independents after being denied the party ticket. Among the prominent losers was present President of the committee — Tarsem Singla.