70% turnout in Punjab election, Malwa leads

Ruchika M Khanna & Rajmeet Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 20

Dithering till the very end, nearly 70 per cent voters turned out to elect the 16th Punjab Vidhan Sabha on Sunday. The usual hustle-bustle at polling booths was missing. Only those supporting the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) spoke animatedly about their political affiliation. Party workers of the ruling Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) maintained a stoic silence.

Voting percentage stood at 77.4 in 2017

As The Tribune team traversed through the length and breadth of the state, it was evident that traditional parties had managed to retain their cadre vote though in several constituencies workers seemed reluctant to throw their weight behind candidates fielded by allies because of the “choice” of the candidate or infighting, or both. Farmers’ political outfit, the Sanyukt Samaj Morcha, which had hoped to benefit from the successful farmers’ stir, failed to catch the fancy of voters. In Chamkaur Sahib, one of the two constituencies where CM Charanjit Singh Channi is in the fray, urban and semi-urban voters in Morinda and Chamkaur Sahib said they were backing him because of the development works he had initiated during the past three months. However, in rural areas, AAP seemed to have the edge. In Nawanshahr, the Congress could be at a disadvantage owing to the rebellion by Angad Saini, who is contesting as an Independent. This could benefit BSP’s Nachhatar Pal Singh. In Banga, the party fielded Tarlochan Soondh a few days prior to the closing of nominations. The delay in his nomination seems to have benefited Akali Dal’s Sukhwinder Sukhi. AAP, though popular among the economically weaker sections, is unlikely to do well in the Doaba belt. The BJP-led alliance seems to have done well in Jalandhar district.

Riding high on “badlao”, AAP seemed to have lost some of its sheen on the polling day, especially in the crucial Malwa region comprising 69 of the 117 Assembly seats. What may have upset the AAP applecart is not only the “terrorist link” slur hurled at its party leaders, but also strategic poll management. In the AAP stronghold of Sangrur and Barnala districts, the SAD (Amritsar) put up posters of actor Deep Sidhu, who was killed in a road accident recently, weaning away a section of AAP voters in Amargarh, Bhadaur and Mehal Kalan. AAP seemed to be going strong in Malwa, but Dera Sacha Sauda’s message to its followers on Saturday, asking them to support BJP and Akali Dal candidates, may have dented AAP’s vote base. In several seats in Ludhiana where till two days ago AAP had the edge, the BJP succeeded in polarising voters. As a result, AAP may now get only two or three seats.

The fight at most places in Malwa is between AAP and SAD with the Congress, that had won 40 seats in this region in 2017, facing anti-incumbency. In a multi-cornered contest this time, the SAD and AAP seem to be on the upswing. At a polling booth in Amloh, there was a rush outside both SAD and AAP booths. In Fatehgarh Sahib and Bassi Pathana, young voters are staunchly with AAP, swayed by the promise of jobs, world-class education and health facilities. The party is likely to do well here.

Jaila Ram of Fatehgarh Sahib said he had voted for AAP because he believed it would provide good schools and colleges. In Majha, infighting among Congress leaders seems to have worked to SAD’s advantage.