CONG SEES WIN IN FATIGUE, OTHERS MAKE CLAIMS TOO

CHANDIGARH/GURDASPUR:

The low voter turnout of 56% in the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha bypoll on Wednesday was interpreted by Punjab’s ruling Congress as a sign of victory due to, what the party termed, “lack of excitement and aggression in the rival camps”.

According to calculations by the party, high turnout in predominantly rural seats with ministers and MLAs of teh Congress — Dera Baba Nanak (65%), Fatehgarh Churian (63%) and Bhoa (60%) — indicates the polling went in its favour.

“In a triangular contest, the overall voting would have been high had the BJP, SAD and AAP cadres too came out in full force,” a party leader said.

“But they were not seen getting voters to booths and their participation through the day remained sluggish. In a parliamentary bypoll, it’s mainly about the cadre votes. The floating vote does not come out, particularly in urban areas,” said another analyst from the party camp.

In the urban segments, voting was lower than in ones with more rural voters. For instance, Batala of Akali MLA Lakhbir Singh Lodhinangal saw the low- est turnout at 50%.

Congress candidate Sunil Jakhar, asked to comment also on the low turnout, said, “It was a one-horse race as the attendance at the BJP booths was meagre. There was no enthusiasm among BJP supporters and thus they avoided polling their votes too, leading to low polling percentage.”

BJP candidate Swaran Salaria, however, claimed after casting his vote, “BJP won with a margin of 1.4 lakh votes last time, and I am sure of registering an even bigger win. People will discard Congress’ Sunil Jakhar who was not accepted by the people of his own constituency, Abohar, in the assembly polls.”

AAP’s Maj Gen Suresh Khajuria (retd) reiterated his claim that “Salaria doesn’t stand a chance anyway”. “People are fed up of the false promises and poor administration by both the governments. It is time for change.” AAP leader Sukhpal Khaira said the low turnout signified “defeat of democracy” in Punjab. “People want to vote against the false promises of the state government, but seem to be afraid,” he said.

SAD spokesman Daljit Singh Cheema blamed “fear created by Congress” for the low turnout.