GURDASPUR: 56% VOTING
LOK SABHA BYPOLL In 2014 general elections, polling percentage for this seat was 70; result to be out on Sunday
PATHANKOT: The high-stakes Gurdaspur Lok Sabha bypoll on Wednesday witnessed a dismal 56% voter turn out as compared to the 70% in the 2014 general elections. There were only stray incidents of violence, including one in Pahra village.
The counting and results are scheduled for October 15.
In all, 15.2 lakh people were eligible to vote in the bypoll necessitated by the death of incumbent Vinod Khanna of the BJP in April. Though there were 11 candidates, it was considered primarily a three-horse race between BJP candidate Swaran Salaria, Congress’ Sunil Jakhar and A am Aadmi Party’s Maj Gen Suresh Kumar Khajuria (retd). While Jakhar sought to pitch it as a referendum on the Na rend ra Modiled NDA government at the Centre ahead of the 2019 general elections, many saw it also as a barometer for the popularity of the seven-month-old Congress government in Punjab.
The polling commenced at 8 am with luke warm response, and continued at a sluggish pace till 5 pm. Of the nine assembly segments that fall under the constituency, Dera Baba Nanak registered the maximum turnout at 65%. It was Batala that recorded the lowest at 50%.
Fatehgarh Churian saw 63% voting, while 60% voters exercised their franchise in B ho a, and 57 % in Qadian.
At 54%, Pathankot, Sujanpur, Dinanagar and Gurdaspur (assembly seat) were clubbed on the turnout table.
Chief electoral officer VK Singh said ,“Owing to cooperation of the district administration and political parties, the bypoll process has remained peaceful.”
KHAJURIA ALLEGES ‘DIRTY TACTICS’
High drama was witnessed at a polling booth in Pangoli village in Sujanpur where AAP candidate Khajuria came along with his wife Trip ta Khajuri a and son Rohit Kahjuria to cast his vote, and landed in a verbal spat with a Congress worker who accused him of “influencing voters” inside the polling booth.
Khajuria later filed a complaint with the Election Commission against them an, identified as Rajeshwar Singh. The complaint read ,“The Congress agent had virtually ceased the booth. He guided the people going right up to the polling machine. He even didn’ t spare me. The polling staff requested him not to stand near the polling machine but he refused to oblige.”
Talking to HT, Khajuria said the Congress is re sorting to “dirty tactics” to woo voters. He had heated arguments also with police men there, and threatened to get them sacked for negligence of duty.
Rajesh Kumar, the presiding officer, too said Rajeshwar refused to listen to his repeated requests. But Rajeshwar said he was just standing inside the room to keep a check on the proceedings and didn’t influence any voter.
S war an Sal aria and his mother Sito Salaria voted around 9.30 am at their native village Chauhana in Dinanagar.
SENIORCITIZENS STEAL SHOW
Amid the low turn out, elders voters were seen in large numbers at the polling booths, while anecdotal evidence suggested low enthusiasm among younger citizens.
Janla Devi, 102, at Chak Manhasa village in Sujanpur was among the voters.
“I am glad to use my right to vote even at the age of 102. It saddens me to see the unemployed youth in Punjab and poor health facilities. I hope that the victorious candidate will work for the welfare of the people and keep promises .” Some enthused senior citizens came to vote despite medical conditions.
For security, 30 companies of paramilitary forces and 7,000 state police personnel were deployed at the 1,781 polling stations.