Chandigarh, Sept 22: The State Election Commission is scheduled to declare today the results of Punjab zilla parishad and panchayat samiti elections 2018. The rural body polls were held on Wednesday in 22 districts of the state. Punjab Zila Parishad & Panchayat Samiti Elections 2018 Results Live News Updates.

A total of 22 zila parishads went to polls, where 354 seats were contested. On the other hand, 2,900 seats in 150 panchayat samitis were up for grabs. Ahead of the elections, the Congress was pitched to emerge as the winner as the party has swept all local body polls held after the 2017 assembly elections. Ludhiana Zila Parishad & Panchayat Samiti Elections 2018 Results Live News Updates.

Senior Congress leader and Cabinet Minister Tript Bajwa, while speaking to reporters, said the Congress would "clean sweep" the elections due to the development-oriented governance of Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh. Amritsar Zilla Parishad & Panchayat Samiti Elections 2018 Results Live News Updates.

The Opposition has alleged "mass-rigging" of polls by the ruling party, claiming that the SEC officials were working as "extension counters" of the Congress.

Shiromani Akali Dal chief and former Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal said "democracy was murdered in broad daylight" during the rural body polls. He claimed that the workers of Opposition parties were being beaten up by the local police, who were "acting hand-in-glove with the Congress leaders".

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) resonated he charge, claiming that the polls witnessed "unprecedented use of money and muscle power". Party's state unit chief Balbir Singh said liquor was being openly distributed to lure the voters.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 22, 2018 12:32 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).