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Highest ever voter turnout in Punjab

Sarabjit Pandher

State sets a record of 76 p.c. voting

CHANDIGARH: On Tuesday, Punjab set a record of sorts when a whopping 76 per cent of the 16,588,327 electorate exercised their right to franchise in 115 of the 117 Assembly constituencies where polling was held. This is the highest ever voters' participation in any Assembly election in the State, surpassing 72 per cent in the 1967.

Of the 12,548,938 people who turned out to vote, 6,495,806 were men and 6,053,132 women. Kapurthala was the only district where more women cast their votes compared to men.

According to the figures provided by Punjab's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Mansa and Sangrur districts averaging 85 per cent recorded the highest voters' turnout.

They were followed by Muktsar and Faridkot districts with 83 per cent each. Amritsar with 68 per cent voters exercising their franchise was the lowest.

According to constituency-wise figures, Sardulgarh with 89 per cent led the table, followed by Dirbha with 88, while Akali chief Parkash Singh Badal's constituency Lambi was among six constituencies where an 87 per cent turnout was recorded. Amritsar (West) and Ludhiana (Rural) with 56 per cent each recorded the minimum number of voters.

Interestingly, 13 of the State's 20 districts recorded the higher voter turnout as compared to the State average of 76 per cent. As many as 73 constituencies returned averages of turnout equal to or higher than the State figures.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission has ordered re-poll in booth No. 72 at Bal village in Qadian constituency under Gurdaspur district. However, the booth also falls in the Amritsar Lok Sabha constituency where by-election is being conducted simultaneously.

The Commission has also directed the Punjab CEO to pass necessary instructions to the Deputy Commissioners in all 20 districts to register cases against a television news channel for violating section 126 of the Representation of People's Act. The channel had allegedly ignored a notice from the Commission to stop live telecast of its "instant poll".

Punjab Police chief R.S. Gill, complimenting the officers and personnel for generating confidence among voters and creating a conducive environment for smooth, fair and free polling, has said that except for a few heated exchanges and minor scuffles there was no incident of firing, arson, loot or booth-capturing. He said the State police which fought terrorism successfully had also now qualified the test of democracy by professionally handling one of the most closely contested elections in the history of the State.

Mr. Gill, who was appointed to the top post on orders from the Election Commission of India, said "there was a significant decline in poll violence as only seven cases of murder, attempt to murder and grievous hurt were registered as compared to 27 in 2002".

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Highest ever voter turnout in Punjab

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