67% turnout in Haryana; voting pattern shows urban-rural divide

Haryana recorded 67 per cent turnout (till past midnight) in the Assembly elections on Saturday even as the polling passed off peacefully barring stray clashes and skirmishes. The voting pattern indicated a rural-urban divide across the 90 segments.

The turnout was lower compared to 68.2 per cent recorded in the 2019 Assembly election.

According to the data provided by the Election Commission, Fatehabad distict recorded the highest turnout of 74.51 per cent while Faridabad recorded the lowest polling of 55.46 per cent, closely followed by Panchkula at 58.70 per cent. Gurugram district’s poll percentage stood at 57.73. This clearly indicates that lesser number of urban voters came out to exercise their franchise.

Contrary to this, the districts of Palwal (73.25%), Yamunanagar (73.27%) and Mewat (72.83%) did much better than their urban counterparts.

The data through the day indicated heavy turnout (till past midnight) in most of the key constituencies with close contests, indicating a change could be on the cards in these segments.

While Ladwa from where caretaker Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini is contesting saw 72 per cent voting, Jagadhri (represented by former minister Kanwar Pal Gujjar) saw 78.10 per cent turnout and Loharu (represented by Town and Country Planning Minister JP Dalal) witnessed 79.30 per cent polling till 5 pm.

Faridabad’s Badkhal saw only 47.29 per cent polling. Gurugram city, despite polling booths being set up in housing societies to facilitate the voters, recorded a poll percentage of 51.50.

Uchana Kalan, witnessing a clash of dynasties with Congress fielding Brijendra Singh, son of former minister Birender Singh, and Dushyant Chautala contesting on a Jannayak Janta Party ticket, saw 75.44 per cent polling. The turnout was 69.80 per cent in the Julana segment from where Congress has fielded Olympian wrestler Vinesh Phogat.

Soon after the polling started, a clash between Congress and BJP workers was reported from Khanda Kheri village while a minor scuffle took place between the Congress and INLD activists in the Narnaund Assembly segment from where BJP’s Jat leader Capt Abhimanyu is in the fray.

During polling, clashes and stone-throwing were also witnessed at Punhana in Nuh between workers of Independent candidate Rahisha Khan and Congress candidate Mohd Ilyas, resulting in injury to five persons. A case has been registered against Congress workers. At Loharu, BJP candidate JP Dalal was gheraoed during a visit to a polling booth even as his security men escorted him to safety.

In Meham, Independent candidate Bajraj Kundu alleged that he was assaulted by Congress leader Anand Singh Dangi whose son, Balram Singh Dangi is contesting from the seat. However, Balram denied the charge. Kundu has submitted a complaint to the police and the Returning Officer while a counter-complaint of assault has been submitted by another Independent candidate.

A technical snag in a VVPAT machine was reported from the Barwala Assembly segment in Hisar where voting was delayed while a glitch in a machine was also reported from Panchkula.

CM Saini, after casting his vote, claimed the BJP would form the government for the third time in the state. Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda emphatically said the party would get an overwhelming majority and come to power. The former CM said he could not comment on the number of seats the party would get.

Apart from the two national parties — the BJP and the Congress, the key contesting parties in the fray are the Aam Aadmi Party as also the Indian National Lok Dal in a pre-poll alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party (INLD-BSP) and the Jannayak Janta Party which is contesting with the Azad Samaj Party.

Earlier, voting started at 7 am and continued past 8 pm since long queues were witnessed outside polling booths well past the deadline of 6 pm. A total of 1,031 candidates are contesting in all 90 Assembly constituencies, and 20,632 polling booths were set up for voting. After the conclusion of polling, the EVMs were kept in strong rooms. These will be now opened on October 8 for the counting of votes.

Fatehabad district shows the way

74.51% voting highest in Fatehabad district

55.46% Turnout lowest in faridabad district

Clashes in Nuh, cong workers booked

Clashes were witnessed between workers of Independent candidate Rahisha Khan and Congress’ Mohd Ilyas at Punhana, Nuh. These reportedly resulted in injury to five persons. A case has been registered against Congress workers in this regard.