Malerkotla: Polling for the municipal council of Punjab’s sleepy Muslim-majority town of Malerkotla resembled a festival as the town recorded a voter turnout of 76%.
As voting in the council’s 33 wards started, people started lining up outside polling booths. Women comprised a large percentage of voters, and elderly and first-time voters too came out in droves.
“No matter the type of elections, including parliamentary, state or civic body, voting day has always been a festival here as people in large number exercise their democratic right. I also voted today for better roads, sewerage and overall development of the town,” said Rani Zulfikar of Dooma Gali Mohalla. She indicated that roads in the town were not up to mark and there was a problem of waterlogging.
A first-time voter from Kamal Cinema Road, Muhammad Usman, said he had been desperately waiting for voting day. “Since childhood, I had only seen people casting their vote,I hope my vote makes a change and things change for the better in our town,” said Usman (22).
A 65-year-old voter from the town said it seemed development was being carried out in the town, but they would be happy only when the change would be visible. “In many areas, roads are not in a good shape and even garbage disposal is an issue. Waterlogging is a problem on the road from Sirhindi Gate to Jargroad area, on Kamal Cinema road, Hanuman Mandir road, and some areas in Maler. We have done our job; now it is up to those who would be elected,” he said.