Voting Turnout Is Erratic In The Areas That Chose AAP

The voter turnout figures in the areas claimed to have the AAP majority are comparatively lower than the other constituencies of the state

Three days into the Punjab elections, the voter turnout has taken a massive leap of 4.2 percent compared to the original tentative figures released by the Election Commission at 5 pm yesterday. The statistics also reveal that turnout was meager where Arvind Kejriwal’s AAP claimed a solid support base.

The constituencies with incumbent AAP MLAs have seen a drop in polls, spanning 2.3 percent to over 9%.

In constituencies like Talwandi Sabo, where Baljinder Kaul is the sitting MLA, the voter turnout had decreased by 2.3 percent; in Dirba, where Harpal Singh Cheema is the sitting MLA contesting the election, the polling turnout has reduced by 4.4 percent.

In this regard, constituencies like Sunam have a figure of 5.4, Barnala has a figure of 6.6 percent, Budhlada has a figure of 6.2 percent, Mehal Kalan has a figure of 9.4 percent, and Jagraon has a figure of 9.8 percent.

Amritsar west has recorded the lowest voter turnout in this context with 55.40 percent, and on the other hand, Gidderbaha from Muktsar district had recorded a polling percentage of 84.93 percent.

The lower voter turnout might be indicative of the status quo. In comparison, the higher voter turnout might indicate a change in the mindset of the people where people are exercising their democratic rights. 

The second-lowest turnout figure in the last 20 years was in 2007 — 68.72 percent — but the Akali-BJP alliance came to power that year, sweeping aside the Congress government. In 2017, when Congress ended the 10-year rule of the Akali-BJP government, the polling figure was 77.36 percent — lower than 2012, when the Akali-BJP government won its second term. 

This year’s election is being contested by all the major parties such as Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), BJP, Congress, and AAP. But despite rigorous campaigning in the days leading upto the election, surveys predict that Congress and AAP have a considerable favor in this election compared to the other parties. 

Moving forward, actor and philanthropist Sonu Sood was booked in Moga after an FIR was filed against him, which stated that the actor was in clear violation of the warning issued by the Additional District Magistrate on Sunday and was found to be allegedly campaigning for his sister in Landeke village in Moga.

He was found sitting in his car in the town. Moga Senior Superintendent of Police had commented that Sood was not supposed to be near any polling stations in Moga but violated the order. This action had to be taken against the actor. 

Edited by: Mahi Gupta

Published by: Vishakha Verma