44.6% turnout in Jalandhar, polling peaceful

As many as 44.6 per cent votes were polled in Jalandhar in the panchayat elections, voting for which was peacefully concluded across the district on Sunday. This is 13 per cent less, compared to the voter turnout in the 2018 zila parishad and block samiti polls in Jalandhar. Then polling was  57.56 per cent.

As many as 1,209 polling booths were set up for 21 zones of the Zila Parishad and 188 zones for 11 Block Samitis.

Although polling was scheduled to end at 4 pm, voting continued beyond the stipulated time in some areas as voters queued up at the last minute. Officials visited various booths throughout the day to review arrangements.

Voter enthusiasm appeared subdued early in the day, with many booths wearing a deserted look until 11 am – many booths wore a deserted look as voting picked up mostly post afternoon.

At a booth at village Dhadde, out of 1,700 votes, only 100 had been polled around 11 am today. Booths at villages Hazara and Johlan also remained mostly empty. While voting picked up at Kukkar Pind gradually, at village Bambianwali, the BJP booth witnessed a rush. While AAP maintained a decent booth presence on the ground, the BJP interestingly put up booths at most villages where The Tribune team visited.

After the stand-off with farmers during the Delhi farm protests and the following opposition faced by the party in the state, the BJP has been working to increase its ground presence in the rural areas in all elections.

After voting was concluded, Deputy Commissioner, Jalandhar, Dr Himanshu Aggarwal thanked the voters, poll and security staff, candidates and political parties for cooperation in organising free, fair and peaceful elections for Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti in the district. The DC said elaborate arrangements were put in place to ensure that people do not face any problem in exercising their franchise.

He said polling was peaceful and there was no report of any untoward incident from any polling booth in the constituency. The DC said the administration had made elaborate security arrangements for polling and a large number of personnel both from civil and police were deployed for smooth and hassle-free conduct of polling on all 1,209 polling booths.

Earlier in the day, Commissioner of Police Dhanpreet Kaur visited various booths.

Speaking to mediapersons she said, “As many as 57 polling booths were set up within the commissionerate police’s jurisdiction, where categorywise deployments had been made. Barring this, 10 of our patrolling parties were on the job at various stations.”

Meanwhile, after the elections were completed, the collection centre set up to keep the ballot boxes at Doaba College in Jalandhar was inspected by Election Observer Nayan. She said after voting, the ballot boxes were being kept under tight security at the collection centres. CCTV cameras had been installed for 24-hour surveillance of the ballot boxes and no one will be allowed to enter, she added. Counting of votes will begin on December 17 at 8 am.

Highest 52.69% voting in Lohian Khas

Following 44.6 per cent voters exercising their franchise during the elections to Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti in Jalandhar, Deputy Commissioner Dr Himanshu Aggarwal stated that 43.93 pc votes were cast in Jalandhar East, 44.04 pc in Adampur, 46.13 pc in Bhogpur, 43.57 pc in Jalandhar West, 52.69 pc in Lohian Khas, 45.76 pc in Mehatpur, 48.84 pc in Nurmahal, 41.45 pc in Phillaur, 49.06 pc in Shahkot, 43.76 pc in Rurka Kalan and 45.86 pc in Nakodar.

Repoll ordered in Bhogpur

A repoll was ordered in booth no. 72 of the Bhogpur Block Samiti (zone number 4) in Jalandhar after an error was spotted in the ballot papers on the booth.

The DC said, “The repoll has been ordered on our own recommendation. Some mistake in ballot was found and on the report of Returning Officer (RO), repoll was recommended.”

Senior officials said a printing error in the ballot paper was observed following which the issue was brought to the notice of the administration by the RO, following which immediate cognizance was taken and a repoll on the booth was sought by the administration from the SEC.

Repoll will be held on the booth on December 16 and counting on December 17.