Sangrur bypoll sees lowest poll percentage in 3 decades

| | Chandigarh
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Sangrur bypoll sees lowest poll percentage in 3 decades

Saturday, 25 June 2022 | Monika Malik | Chandigarh

Sangrur Lok Sabha constituency witnessed just 45.30 per cent voter turnout during bypoll on Thursday — lowest after three decades. Before this, Sangrur constituency had witnessed the lowest polling percentage of just 10.9 per cent in 1991 parliamentary polls when terrorism was at its peak in Punjab.

 

In rural areas, the authorities attributed low turnout to paddy transplantation; but they failed to give any specific reason for the same in urban areas. Till Thursday evening (5 pm), the figure stood at 36.04 per cent. The final figure of 45.30 per cent was released by the office of Punjab Chief Electoral Office (CEO) on Friday, which also claimed that no incidence of violence took place during the byelection.

 

Opponents have blamed the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for the low turnout accusing it of letting down the electorates by not fulfilling the big promises like providing Rs 1000 to all 18-plus women per month, free electricity, among others. On the other hand, AAP claimed that the poor turnout was because of heat and ongoing paddy transplantation season.

 

Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring said that the people are unhappy with the government, as those who voted for AAP, are now upset to see it not fulfilling its promises.

 

Sharing the same views, Punjab BJP president Ashwani Kumar said that AAP failed to fulfill its election promises. “There was great enthusiasm among the people when they voted for AAP in February. But now they are disappointed to see AAP government’s performance and thus did not vote at all,” he said.

 

The electorate of Sangrur have always voted enthusiastically in the past. However, the lowest polling percentage since 1991 has baffled many. In 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Sangrur recorded the voter turnout of 72.44 percent, while constituency’s poll percentage was 77.21 percent in 2014 general elections. In 2009 polls, the polling percentage was 74.41 percent, 61.6 per cent in 2004, 56.1 per cent in 1999, 60.1 per cent in 1998 polls, and 62.2 per cent in 1996.

 

In fact, in the February 20 assembly polls, all nine segments under Sangrur Lok Sabha seat witnessed polling percentage of more than 70 percent.

 

Sangrur has been AAP’s stronghold, especially that of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who won the seat for two consecutive terms — in 2014 and 2019. In fact, Dhuri assembly segment, from where Mann has been elected in elections about four months ago, also falls under Sangrur parliamentary seat.

 

In its first assembly polls in Punjab in 2017, party could win only 20 seats in Punjab but five of these were from Sangrur — Dirba, Sunam, Barnala, Mehal Kalan, Bhadaur.

 

In all, nine assembly seats come under Sangrur Lok Sabha seat — Lehragaga, Dirba, Sunam, Dhuri, Sangrur (in Sangrur district), Malerkotla (in Malerkotla district), Barnala, Bhadaur, and Mehal Kalan (in Barnala district). All were won by AAP in state assembly polls in February this year. Other than Mann, state’s Finance Minister Harpal Cheema and Education Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer are MLAs from Dirba and Barnala, respectively.

 

In Thursday's byelection, the highest turnout of 48.26 per cent was recorded in Chief Minister’s constituency — Dhuri, which had witnessed 77.32 per cent turnout in February Vidhan Sabha elections. On the other hand, the lowest turnout of 41.43 per cent was recorded in Barnala assembly constituency, against 71.81 percent it witnessed in the assembly elections which were held on February 20 this year.

 

There are 15,69,240 eligible voters – 8,30,056 men, 7,39,140 women and 44 transgenders – in the Sangrur parliamentary constituency. A total of 16 candidates, including three women, are in the fray. The counting of votes will be held on Sunday.

 

Heatwave, paddy transplantation responsible for low turnout: CM

 

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday said that the heat wave and paddy transplantation was responsible for the low turnout of voters in Sangrur Lok Sabha by-election. “The voters were busy with the transplantation of paddy, and it was also a hot day. That is why the voter turnout was low,” said Mann, on the sidelines of the first day of the Vidhan Sabha’s budget session.

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