Jalandhar bypoll: Turnout high in pockets dominated by Bhagats

Deepkamal Kaur

Jalandhar, July 11

As the fate of 15 candidates for the Jalandhar West byelection has been sealed, the machines have been kept in the strongrooms at Lyallpur Khalsa College for Women where BSF personnel have been deployed to guard them.

The counting will begin on July 13 at 8 am. The preparations for counting have started under the supervision of District Electoral Officer-cum-DC Himanshu Aggarwal.

As many as 94,543 voters (54.98 pc) of the total 1,71,963 cast vote on Wednesday, which was 15,972 less than the votes cast in the Lok Sabha poll in the segment a month back.

A lesser turnout implies a dip in the victory margin. There is a reprieve for AAP candidate Mohinder Bhagat as in the eight polling booths, which has a huge strength of the Bhagat community, the poll percentage was high between 63 per cent and 73 per cent.

Meanwhile, after a tiring campaign, it was a rest day today. Bhagat said he got up at 9 am and spent time with his family, whom he could not attend for long. BJP candidate Sheetal Angural said he paid obeisance at Dera Murad Shah in Nakodar.

Congress’ Surinder Kaur said she stayed back at home and did not step out, which was in itself a huge relaxation for her. “Supporters kept coming through the day and we discussed the polling patterns,” she said.