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Police, paramilitary forces go
overboard
Create curfew-like situation in some parts of the city
Ludhiana, January 30
Though the police and paramilitary forces deployed for the assembly elections here did a commendable job to ensure by and large peaceful polling, in some
 parts of the city, local residents, shopkeepers and vendors faced a curfew-like situation created by certain overenthusiastic police personnel.
The main road connecting Old Court Chowk and Kailash Cinema Chowk was barricaded at both ends resulting in closure to vehicular traffic all through the day in Ludhiana on Monday. Photo: Inderjeet Verma
Tension defused at Lohara
 Ludhiana, January 30
Tension prevailed at a polling station in the Lohara area after independent candidate Balwinder Bains, Congress candidate Ashok Prashar Pappi and SAD candidate Hakam Singh Gyaspura, along with their supporters, gathered at a polling booth and started levelling allegations and counter-allegations against one other for influencing voters.
Independent candidate Balwinder Bains stands along with his supporters at a polling station in Lohara on Monday.Tribune photo: Himanshu Mahajan
Poll shadow on Gandhi’s death anniversary
Ludhiana, January 30
Election din cast its shadow on the martyrdom day of father of the nation Mohan Das Karamchand Gandhi as no politician or anyone from the Jalandhar administration visited the Gandhi Memorial in Phillaur to pay tributes today.
As the entire country is observing a dry day, the boozers could easily be spotted at the Gandhi Memorial.
‘Not to vote’ form not given: Voter
Ludhiana, January 30
A person named Sukhwinder Singh Talwandi alleged that he was not handed over “form” 17A, which is related to “right not to vote” at a polling station in the Atam Nagar constituency. He said the election staff on duty told him to come after two hours if he wanted not to cast his vote.
Cast your vote, avail
discount
 Shopkeepers find novel way to encourage people to cast their vote
Ludhiana, January 30
Encouraging voters to use their right to franchise, the owners of some of the stores in the city came up with attractive ideas. Customers were given the opportunity to avail themselves of discounts after showing their voting
ink mark.
A board outside a restaurant announcing discount for those who have exercised their right to franchise in Ludhiana on Monday.
Tribune photo: Himanshu Mahajan
Not bothered: Oblivious to the day of polling, people play cards near the Lord Mahavir Civil Hospital in Ludhiana on Monday. Tribune photo: Himanshu Mahajan
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Women in forefront
Mandi Ahmedgarh/ Raikot/Payal, January 30
Despite sporadic allegations of mild rigging and violence by supporters of the SAD and Congress during the Assembly elections in Sangrur and Ludhiana districts, polling passed off peacefully with no untoward incident reported till the conclusion of polling.
Around 72 per cent cast ballot in Jagraon
Jagraon, January 30
Around 72 per cent of total 1.58 lakh voters in the Jagraon Assembly constituency cast their ballots today.
With this, the fate of four candidates, including Isher Singh Meharban of the Congress, SR Kaler of the
SAD-BJP alliance, Major Singh of the Sanjha Morcha and an Independent and Congress rebel, Rajeshinder Singh
Sidhu, was sealed in the electronic voting machines.
Private schools pay less to teachers
Ludhiana, January 30
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) in its norms for affiliation from the board states that schools should pay salaries at par with what is paid to teachers in government schools. But these norms in most of the CBSE schools in the city are not abided by.
Migrants exercise right to vote
Ludhiana, January 30
Living away from their homes, the migrant population in the city today got an opportunity to cast their right to vote and give their say in forming the next government. While some have gone back home to cast their vote, others stayed back and cast their vote in the city, which offer them employment.
Heavy turnout in Ludhiana (West)
Ludhiana, January 30
A fair-like environment was witnessed at different polling stations in the Ludhiana West constituency, where a large number of voters turned up throughout the day today to cast their vote.
Leprosy-afflicted come forward to cast vote
Doraha, January 30
Inmates of the Mahavir Kushat Ashram located on the southern bypass along the Sidhwan Canal near Doraha cast their vote with a hope that the new government may think of
their rehabilitation in a better way.
Polling peaceful in Atam Nagar
 Ludhiana, January 30
The Atam Nagar constituency, which witnessed a triangular contest, remained peaceful throughout the day. Before the polling, the Election Commission had kept a close vigil on this constituency as two arch rivals, Hira Singh Gabria (SAD) and Simarjit Singh Bains (Independent and Akali rebel) were in the fray. Malkit Singh
Birmi, a two-time Cabinet minister, was the Congress candidate from this constituency.
Age fails to dampen these voters’ spirit
Ludhiana, January 30
It’s not only the candidates from the 14 Assembly constituencies of Ludhiana who had been waiting for the polling day. The city also had some keen voters, who despite their age and physical disabilities went ahead to cast their vote.
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Sharanjit Kaur being helped by her relatives in the Dakha constituency. Photo: Inderjeet Verma
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Sushil Kaur (85) and Gulzar Singh with their relatives in Ludhiana. Tribune photos: Himanshu Mahajan
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‘Now, we feel mature
enough'
Ludhiana, January 30
The quantum of excitement was high among the first-time voters who were seen casting their valuable vote. New Year today became all the more special for the first-time voters of the city. Youngsters feel the power to press the button of the EVM has metamorphosed them from being a carefree to be a responsible citizen.
Divya and Jatin after casting their vote in Sarabha Nagar on Monday.
Tribune photo: Himanshu Mahajan
Over 75% polling in
Khanna, Samrala
Khanna/Samrala, January 30
Except some minor scuffle, the entire election process completed peacefully in the Khanna and Samrala constituencies today. Long queues were witnessed at several polling booths in villages and cities.
High- drama at Sukhdev hall in
PAU over payment
Ludhiana, January 30
High- Daram was witnessed at Sukhdev Hall in PAU, when the government employees who were deployed in reserve quota for election duty went on a rampage and complained that the administration employees denied giving them money for attending poll duty.
100 votes cancelled in constituency
Ludhiana, January 30
Several formalities and verifications have to be done to make a new vote, but when it comes to cancel a vote, it is, too, easy for election staff to cancel it without any verification. Satnam Singh, a resident of ward No. 61,
Dugri, and a candidate of the Congress in municipal council elections, cast votes in the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee
(SGPC) elections. But in the state Assembly elections, name of Satnam Singh and his wife are missing from the voters’ list. When he enquired from the authorities, they told them that their votes were cancelled.
‘Scene at polling booth’ actualised for students
Sahnewal, January 30
“Now that we have observed the entire scene with our own eyes, there is no need for us, at least to cram the paragraph on ‘a scene at a polling booth,’ especially marked important, by our teacher, for the coming annual examinations,” expressed Tamanna of class VII of Doraha Public School.
Health staff remain on toes
Ludhiana, January 30
Although employees
of the health department were not deputed on polling stations, they remained alert throughout the day in their respective dispensaries and hospitals.
Cong, SAD workers clash
Sahnewal, January 30
Workers of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) alleged that supporters of the Congress abused them at a polling booth here today. The Congress leaders and police, on the other hand, seemed to be in a denial mode.
CBSE uploads video to update students
Ludhiana, January 30
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has introduced a new programme “Environmental advice” for school students. The move has been taken to change the mindset of next generation about environment concerns.
Anti-Leprosy Day observed
Ludhiana, January 30
The IMA, Ludhiana, observed World Leprosy Day here today at Kushth Ashram. Doctors, including Dr DP Singh Arora, president IMA, Ludhiana, Dr Bimal Kanish and Dr Ravneet Kaur, a skin specialist, Dr Arun Gupta, Dr Suman Bali and Dr Amit Khanna went to Kushth Ashram, Islamganj, Ludhiana. Dr Bimal Kanish and Dr Ravneet Kaur examined the patients.
SAD candidate’s brother
booked
Ludhiana, January 30
Harbir Ayali, younger brother of Manpreet Ayali, SAD candidate from
Dakha, and his close aides were booked by the Jodha police for detaining a Congress worker and snatching voter list from the latter in Dhulkot village
here today.
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