Cong candidate shown black flags

Deepkamal Kaur
Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, May 19

The effect of a sluggish campaign and higher age of the main candidates for the Jalandhar seat reflected in the poll percentage which dipped by 5 per cent this time compared to 2014.

While it stood at 67.21 per cent in 2014, it toppled to just 62.92 per cent this time. Less polling can have a slight edge for sitting MP and Congress candidate Chaudhary Santokh Singh, who faced a slew of protests, including one today at Phillaur when he had gone to cast his vote. The protesters led by the BSP sarpanch of Muthada Kalan village, Kanti Mohan, showed him black flags.

Amid an overall low percentage, slightly higher poll percentage was seen in three reserved Assembly segments — Jalandhar West at 64.13 per cent, Kartarpur at 63.8 per cent and Adampur at 62.97. A major cause of worry for the Congress was high poll percentage in Dalit pockets of the city, including Buta Mandi, Abadpura, Tajpur, Khurla Kingra, Dhilwan, Kot Ram Dass and Dhanowali, where the booths of BSP candidate Balwinder Kumar had more voters than the other parties.

Those managing the BSP booths said they were seeing a much more enthusiasm today as compared to what the situation was 10 years ago. The BSP, which contested with the Punjab Democratic Alliance, is also learnt to have made gains from the communist belt of Nakodar-Nurmahal.

Infighting within the Congress which showed till today may also hit Chaudhary’s prospects, especially in Phillaur and Adampur. A party insider said, “Even if the Congress will be able to retain the Jalandhar seat,it will be a big blow to Chaudhary if he is not able to perform well in Phillaur, where from his son Vikramjit Chaudhary is halqa incharge”. Since Phillaur is where Chaudhary Santokh Singh had given most doles, it remains to be a matter of prestige for him to make a gain from here this time.

Things also do not seem to be gone well for SAD candidate and Valmiki leader Charanjit Atwal as his entire campaign remained based on the Modi factor, which saw onslaught by the BSP that campaigned saying the Modi government attempted to dilute the SC/ST Act last year. Urban Assembly seat of Jalandhar Central, where BJP had carried out maximum campaign, saw the lowest poll percentage of just 58.9 per cent.