Here are the top national and regional headlines emerging from Punjab on Monday, May 25, 2026:
1. Local Body Polls Tomorrow; Punjab Government Declares Public Holiday on May 26
To ensure maximum voter turnout for the high-stakes Municipal General Elections, the Punjab Government has declared a state-wide public holiday tomorrow, May 26. All government offices, educational institutions, boards, and corporations across Punjab and Chandigarh will remain closed.
2. Supreme Court Refuses to Stop Ballot Paper Use; Voting to Proceed As Scheduled
The Supreme Court dismissed a last-minute petition challenging the Punjab State Election Commission’s decision to conduct tomorrow’s municipal and civic body polls using traditional ballot papers instead of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). The apex court cleared the path for polling stations to open on schedule.
3. Workers and Shop Employees Granted Paid Leave to Vote
In separate notifications issued by the Labour Department, the Punjab Government mandated that all factory workers, shop employees, and commercial establishment workers who are registered voters in the polling municipal zones must be granted an exemption/paid leave tomorrow to exercise their franchise.
4. Terror Outfit ‘TTH’ Claims Responsibility for Amritsar ASI Murder
Security forces have been put on high alert after a terror outfit calling itself Tehreek-e-Taliban Hindustan (TTH) claimed responsibility for the targeted killing of a Punjab Police Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) in Amritsar. The group issued further warnings, prompting swift counter-terror investigations by state intelligence agencies.
5. Bomb Threat Targets Diljit Dosanjh and Ludhiana Mayor’s Office
Panic struck Ludhiana after a high-severity bomb threat targeted Punjabi global superstar Diljit Dosanjh and Ludhiana Mayor Inderjit Kaur. The Ludhiana Municipal Corporation office was temporarily evacuated as bomb disposal squads and canine units conducted extensive sweeps. Security has been significantly scaled up across the city.
6. Government Reschedules Bakrid Public Holiday to May 28
Following an updated directive from the Central Government, the Punjab Government has officially revised its gazetted holiday schedule for Eid-ul-Zuha (Bakrid). Previously marked for May 27, the public holiday for all state schools, colleges, and government offices will now be observed on Thursday, May 28, 2026.
7. Next Phase of Municipal Elections Announced for Four Towns in Gurdaspur
Even as the state prepares for tomorrow’s polling, the State Election Commission announced the schedule for the next phase of general elections for MC Dinanagar, MC Gurdaspur, MC Qadian, and MC Sham Chaurasi. Nominations will open on May 28, with the final voting slated for June 10, 2026.
8. Severe Heatwave Alerts Imposed Across Punjab as Power Demand Surges
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a “severe heatwave” warning for Punjab and northwest India, predicting extreme temperatures to persist for the next 4 to 5 days. Localized power outages, including a grueling 17-hour blackout in Mohali’s Phase 10, have left residents reeling as the grid faces peak summer load.
9. Illegal “Liquor Langar” Operator Arrested in Chandigarh’s Sector 9
Chandigarh Police arrested a prominent liquor contractor, Rajesh Sachdeva, after videos went viral on social media showing his staff openly mixing alcohol into ice chuskis (golas) and distributing them for free in the upscale Sector 9 market. A First Information Report (FIR) was filed under excise laws.
10. Punjab Teachers Oppose “Double Duty” Over Drug and Population Censuses
Government school teachers across Punjab have expressed fierce resentment against the state administration for being ordered to conduct a localized “Drug Census” simultaneously with their duties for the upcoming national Population Census. Staff unions stated that double-duty mandates are severely disrupting educational timelines.
