Unprecedented Delay, Low Voter Turnout and High Vote Rejection in Zila Parishad & Block Samiti Results Raise Serious Questions on Electoral Integrity in Punjab: Baliawal
The Bharatiya Janata Party, Punjab, has expressed grave concern over the extraordinary delay in the declaration of results of the Zila Parishad and Block Samiti elections in rural Punjab. Even after 33 hours of counting, the counting process remains incomplete, despite the elections recording only around 40% voter turnout, exposing severe administrative failure and raising serious doubts over the transparency and credibility of the entire electoral exercise.
City Air News
Dec 20, 2025 04:14
0
Chandigarh, December 20, 2025: The Bharatiya Janata Party, Punjab, has expressed grave concern over the extraordinary delay in the declaration of results of the Zila Parishad and Block Samiti elections in rural Punjab. Even after 33 hours of counting, the counting process remains incomplete, despite the elections recording only around 40% voter turnout, exposing severe administrative failure and raising serious doubts over the transparency and credibility of the entire electoral exercise.
Reacting to the situation, Pritpal Singh Baliawal, State Spokesperson, BJP Punjab, said that this disgraceful delay clearly demonstrates why Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) are essential for free, fair, transparent, and time-bound elections. He stated that ballot-paper-based elections have once again proven to be inefficient and highly vulnerable to manipulation.
Baliawal pointed out that ballot-paper voting inevitably leads to endless counting delays, large-scale rejection of valid votes, and an open scope for malpractice, including fake ballot printing. Reports of lakhs of votes being rejected and results taking days to be announced have seriously eroded public faith in the democratic process.
He further stated that even Punjab Congress leaders have publicly accused the Aam Aadmi Party government of vote manipulation and fake ballot printing during these elections, making the situation even more alarming. Baliawal questioned the silence of the Congress high command and urged Rahul Gandhi to seek answers from his alliance partner on why the counting process in Punjab has collapsed so badly.
“When elections with barely 40% voter participation take days to conclude and witness massive vote rejection, the integrity of the entire electoral exercise stands compromised. Voters deserve transparency, efficiency, and trust—not confusion, delays, and political games,” Baliawal said.
He concluded by asserting that those who thrive on manipulation and chaos fear EVMs, as EVMs ensure rejection-free voting, faster counting, and complete transparency. The BJP reiterated its demand for urgent electoral reforms to strengthen democracy and restore the confidence of voters in the system.
