Heat, holidays, and apathy blamed for record low turnout in Ludhiana West bypoll

Scorching temperatures, summer vacations, and a growing sense of political disillusionment have been cited as key reasons behind the dismal 51.3 per cent voter turnout in the Ludhiana West Assembly bypoll held on June 19 — the lowest in nearly two decades and the second-lowest since 2002.

Advertisement

Despite aggressive campaigning by all major parties — AAP, Congress, BJP, and SAD — the electorate in Punjab’s industrial hub remained largely indifferent. According to the Election Commission data, just over 1.75 lakh voters were eligible to cast their vote, but barely half turned up. The turnout marked a sharp decline from the 64.3 per cent recorded in the 2022 Assembly election and nearly 69 per cent seen in 2012 and 2017.

Polling officials noted that by 9 am only 8.5 per cent of voters had cast their ballots, with many deterred by the oppressive heat, which hovered around 36 degrees Celsius. “The weather was a major factor. People preferred to stay indoors, especially the elderly,” said a polling officer.

The timing of the bypoll during school holidays also played a role. Many families from middle- and upper middle-class areas were away on vacation, leading to visibly thinner crowds at polling stations in key urban pockets.

Beyond logistical hurdles, political observers pointed to a deeper malaise. “Bypolls rarely generate the kind of urgency or emotional investment that general elections do,” said Dr Rubal Kanozia, head of mass communication at CUP, Bathinda. “Many voters perceive them as elite power tussles with little immediate consequence.”