The Punjab unit of the Election Commission has announced that the upcoming municipal elections will be conducted using ballot papers instead of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), which has sparked significant political controversy. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by Punjab BJP President Sunil Jakhar, has protested this decision, alleging that the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is implementing the ballot system out of fear of losing the elections. Jakhar claimed that this move was made without consulting political parties and could lead to manipulation of the vote count. In response, Harpal Singh Cheema, Punjab's Finance Minister, accused the BJP of attempting to distract the public from its own shortcomings and asserted that the decision was made to ensure transparency. The Chief Electoral Officer, Raj Kamal Chaudhary, explained that the lack of available EVMs, which are currently in use for elections in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, necessitated the use of ballot papers. The Election Commission has prepared 4,200 ballot boxes to facilitate the voting process, which is scheduled for May 26, with the counting of votes taking place on May 29.