EVM snags in Karnal, many early birds at K’shetra poll booths

Generally lower turnout points to no anti-incumbency. But sometimes, voters reflect their anger by not casting their vote. PD SHARMA , retired professor of political science, KU

KARNAL: Amid reports of glitches in the electronic voting machines (EVMs) at isolated places, the polling for the Lok Sabha elections ended peacefully in Karnal, Kurukshetra and Ambala constituencies on Sunday.

Polling started late at some booths as EVMs had to be replaced due to snag, but no incident of violence was reported. At booth number 167 in Prem Nagar of Karnal polling started 40 minutes late due to some problem in the EVM. Polling got delayed at booth number 148 of Ambala City and booth numbers 23, 42 and 73 of Panchkula for the same reason.

The turnout in the constituencies was lower as compared to the last election as approximately 66% people came out to vote in Karnal, which is witnessing a straight fight between BJP’s Sanjay Bhatia and Kuldeep Sharma of the Congress. In the last election, the voter turnout was 70.86 in the Karnal. In Kurukshetra, where Haryana minister Nayab Singh Saini is pitted against Congress’ Nirmal Singh and INLD’s Arjun Chautala, the turnout was 72.8% against 75.8% in the last Lok Sabha elections. Since morning, brisk polling was reported in Kurukshetra as voters queued up at the polling booths, especially in the rural areas as highest voter turnout of 76%was reported in Shahbad (reserved) assembly constituency.

The polling was 70.8% in Ambala, which is also lower than 72.03% witnessed in last Lok Sabha polls. Ambala is witnessing a stiff contest between Congress’s Kumari Selja and BJP’s Rattan Lal Kataria and lower turnout has made the contest more complex.

PD Sharma a retired professor of political science of Kurukshetra University, said, “Generally the lower voter turnout points to no anti-incumbency. But there are also instances when the voters reflect their anger against the electoral process by not casting their vote. However, there was a considerable increase in the first-time voters, but since the polling percentage was lower than the last election, it also indicates that the new voters, especially in the cities, did not show much interest in exercising their right to franchise.”

First-time voters were excited as they turned up to be a part of the democratic process. “I am very excited after casting my vote for the first time,” said Diksha Sharma of Kurukshetra.

KHATTAR, SURJEWALA AND SELJA AMONG EARLY VOTERS

Chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar, Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala, Congress candidate from Ambala Kumari Selja were among those who cast their vote early morning. Khattar cast his vote in Karnal. “I am happy as my vote got transferred from Rohtak to Karnal,” Khattar told the media.