62.15% voting recorded in Ludhiana constituency

Minna Zutshi

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, May 19

The Ludhiana Lok Sabha constituency, comprising six urban and three rural Assembly segments, recorded 62.15 per cent polling. The voter turnout was down by 8.43 per cent as compared to the 2014 polls.

The Ludhiana East Assembly segment turnout was 63.67 per cent, while that of the Ludhiana South segment was 55.88 per cent. The Atam Nagar Assembly segment voter turnout was 58.05 per cent.

Among the urban Assembly segments, Ludhiana West, Ludhiana Central and Ludhiana North recorded more than 60 per cent turnout, with the Ludhiana West witnessing the highest voter turnout of 62.43 per cent among the urban segments, followed by Ludhiana Central with 62.11 per cent. The Ludhiana North voter turnout was 60.42 per cent.

The Dakha Assembly segment, with 67.54 per cent polling, recorded the highest voter turnout among all the Assembly segments, followed by the Gill Assembly segment with 64.32 per cent voter turnout. In Jagraon Assembly segment, 63.06 per cent voting was recorded.

The lowest turnout of 55.88 per cent was reported from the Ludhiana South Assembly segment. Balwinder Singh Bains, the brother of the PDA candidate Simarjit Singh Bains, is the Ludhiana South MLA. A total of 22 candidates were in fray for the Lok Sabha 2019 elections for Ludhiana seat. The counting of votes would be held on May 23.

Slow start

Till 10 am, the total voter turnout in the Ludhiana Lok Sabha constituency was 9.06 %. At 11 am, it increased to 10.9%. All urban Assembly segments, with the exception of Ludhiana East, had less than 10% voter turnout till 11.30 am.

Comparison with 2014

The voter turnout in Ludhiana Lok Sabha constituency in 2014 polls was 70.58 per cent. In three rural Assembly segments of Dakha, Gill and Jagraon, more than 70 per cent voting was recorded in 2014, with Dakha seat having the maximum voter turnout of 76.4 per cent, followed by the Gill Assembly constituency that recorded 74.5 per cent voter turnout. The lowest voter turnout of 65 per cent was recorded from Ludhiana South Assembly segment.

In 2009 polls, Jagraon and Dakha had recorded more than 70 per cent voter turnout.

Candidates cast their votes

The AAP candidate Tejpal Singh Gill went by scooter to cast his vote around 8.30 am. He later appealed to all the voters to exercise their right to vote. “It is a big day for democracy. Vote daa estemaal zaroor karyo..Vote chaahe kisey nu vee paao, but vote daa estemaal zaroor karyo.”

PDA candidate Simarjit Singh Bains cast his vote early in the morning. His WhatsApp appeal was: “6 number batan dabaao, corruption bhajaao, aapna Bains leaao.” SAD (B) candidate Maheshinder Singh Grewal too cast his vote in the morning hours.

Case registered

According to Dr S Karuna Raju, Chief Electoral Officer Punjab, a case has been registered under various sections of the law for posting videos and photographs while voting.

Election sidelights

• Polling started 40 minutes late at booth No. 91 in Ludhiana East segment 
• Voting was disrupted for some time at the polling station in New Senior Secondary School, Ludhiana West constituency, due to snag in EVMs. 
• At model polling station No. 43 in Government College for Women, Ludhiana West segment, facilities like drinking water, wheelchair for disabled, chairs in the waiting area and a crèche for tiny-tots were provided.
• A 63-year-old physically and mentally challenged voter was seen proudly displaying mark of indelible ink after casting his vote outside the polling station in Government College for Women.
• At one of the booths, a voter requested polling staff to provide some ink on a toothpick as his little daughter was crying for getting vote-mark on her finger too. The staff politely declined saying CCTV cameras were installed and they could not help.
• The supporters of a candidate made sure that there was proper arrangement for drinking water and other things. Later, their wives prepared tea and light snacks for voters on the stall.

Social media compulsion 

Believe it or not, some voters went to vote so that they could put a picture of an inked finger on their social media accounts. A 32- year-old woman was overheard saying at one of the polling booths, “I usually don't vote because I find no candidate capable, but this year everyone was asking me to upload my picture with inked finger, so I came and voted. Although I opted for NOTA, but coming to vote became a compulsion as I had to upload a picture of my inked finger.” 

Sunday turns into fun day for kids 

With markets and shops closed today, kids' Sunday turned into fun day. The old city area near Kailash Chowk, which is otherwise jam packed, wore a deserted look today. Children were seen playing cricket on roads in the old city area. While parents were busy in casting their votes, kids were busy playing and having some fun.

Contributed by: Kuldip Bhatia, Manav Mander,  Shivani Bhakoo