Jalandhar byelection: AAP MLA Dalbir Tong arrested for violating code of conduct

With just one hour left for voting to culminate, 50.05 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 5pm. 

With just three hours to go for voting to end, 41 per cent polling was recorded till 3 pm.

Punjab Chief Electoral Officer Sibin C said that MLA of Baba Bakala, Dalbir Singh Tong, was arrested for being present in the Jalandhar constituency and has been released on bail.

He said that after receiving photographs of outsiders present near polling booths, the police have been instructed to conduct checks and make public announcements urging those who are not voters in Jalandhar, to leave the constituency immediately.

A video has been shared by the state government, saying police took action in Jalandhar after allegations of outsiders manning polling booths surfaced. Meanwhile, an FIR has been lodged in Shahkot on the complaint of Congress MLA Hardev Laddi Sheriwalia against

Amidst fights and altercations, record low polling in the bypolls till 1.30 pm.

The Red Cross booth recorded only 242 votes polled until 1 pm. At the Buta Pind booth, 1,200 votes (out of 4,000) polled until 1.30 pm. While polling until 1 pm was recorded at 29.5 pc, Jalandhar Central and Jalandhar Cantt record lowest voting percentage so far. 70 per cent people are yet to cast votes in the constituency.

A man was allegedly attacked with bricks outside a booth at Nari Niketan in the crucial Jalandhar West Assembly segment.  As the voting process at Dhan Mohalla, a minor skirmish was reported as AAP workers reportedly slapped and hit at a BJP worker.

The incident occurred around 11 am in the colony falling under Jalandhar North Assembly segment. Victim Shubham Sharma, a BJP worker who was reportedly sitting at a party booth outside the polling station, had argued with AAP workers over attempting to threaten some voters. "The AAP workers got charged up and hit him back during the arguments. Our worker has suffered some injuries and we have got his MLR done. We will get a complaint lodged too," said BJP ex-MLA KD Bhandari.

Harchand S Barsat, state general secretary of AAP, reacted to the allegations saying, "The Congress and Akali leaders have nothing to say and are hence making these accusations. Most of our workers are back to their native places."

On videos and photographic evidences produced by the opposition leaders, he said, "A small number of workers could be in Jalandhar owing to their personal relations."

Karamjit Kaur says Congress will win Jalandhar bypoll considered to be a traditional stronghold of party

Baba Bakala AAP MLA Dalvir Singh Tong was reportedly gheraoed by Shahkot Congress MLA Hardev Laddi sometime back. His car was blocked from all sides. Police was called in and he was handed over to them.

Allegations by Congress and SAD that outsiders setting up booths for Jalandhar bypoll. Video recordings, tiffs reported from Phillaur, Shahkot, Adampur.

Congress MLA Pargat Singh goes live on FB with similar allegations against AAP.

School students had volunteered to help during voting at model polling booths in Jalandhar.

#WATCH | Congress leader & former Punjab minister Pargat Singh casts his vote for #JalandharByElection pic.twitter.com/bVV9hSjn2a

— ANI (@ANI) May 10, 2023

#WATCH | People queue up to cast their votes for #JalandharByElection, Punjab pic.twitter.com/kla07RIMEw

— ANI (@ANI) May 10, 2023

A pink booth with all-women polling staff at HMV College in Jalandhar. Children enjoy, nail art at the booth.

For the Jalandhar bypoll, the Chaudhary family is banking on votes of Dalits owing to their proximity with Dera Sachkhand Ballan, a prominent Ravidassia community that has much influence in the Doaba region comprising Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Nawanshahr and Kapurthala districts. Likewise, AAP's candidate Rinku belongs to the Ravidassia sect. The Jalandhar seat has 38 per cent Dalit population, comprising 21 per cent Ravidasias and the remaining Valmiki or Mazhbi Sikhs. Playing an emotional card, SAD President Sukhbir Badal said strengthening the SAD-BSP alliance by electing its joint candidate Sukhi in the bypoll would be the most appropriate homage to late five-time Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.