Punjab and Chandigarh Showcase Strong Voter Turnout in Lok Sabha Polls

Punjab witnessed a voter turnout of 61.32 percent as all 13 seats went to polls in the seventh phase of the Lok Sabha elections. The Chandigarh parliamentary constituency also saw a significant turnout, with about 68 percent of electors exercising their franchise. The polling concluded at 6 pm, and the data is still being compiled, so the turnout figure for the 2024 elections may rise. Punjab Chief Electoral Officer Sibin C had set a target of achieving more than 70 percent turnout in these polls.Polling began at 7 am under tight security arrangements, and despite the intense heat, voters showed commendable enthusiasm. Sibin C praised the voters for turning out in significant numbers, stating that they have risen to the trust reposed in them by the founders of the Indian Constitution. The polling process was peaceful across the state.According to the Election Commission data, Bathinda witnessed the highest turnout of 67.97 percent among the Lok Sabha constituencies in Punjab, while Amritsar recorded the lowest poll percentage of 54.02 percent. The polling percentage in other constituencies ranged from 58.10 percent to 65.95 percent.Despite the searing heat, voters continued to trickle into polling stations. To ensure their comfort, arrangements were made for drinking water, shades, chabeel sweetened water, medical kits, and oral rehydration solution (ORS) at polling stations.Several prominent figures exercised their franchise early in the day. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, state BJP chief Sunil Jakhar, AAP leader Raghav Chadha, AAP candidates Malvinder Singh Kang and Karamjit Singh Anmol, BJP candidate Taranjit Singh Sandhu, SAD candidate Anil Joshi, and former cricketer Harbhajan Singh were among those who cast their votes.Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring and his wife voted in Muktsar, while Congress candidate Gurjeet Singh Aujla exercised his franchise in Amritsar. BJP candidate Sanjay Tandon and his family voted in Chandigarh. SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal, his wife, Bathinda candidate Harsimrat Kaur Badal, and their children cast their votes in Muktsar. Other notable voters included BJP leader Tarun Chugh, former chief minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa, BJP leader Manpreet Singh Badal, actor Ayushmann Khurrana, and outgoing BJP MP from Chandigarh Kirron Kher.However, former chief minister Amarinder Singh did not cast his vote as he was indisposed. AAP MLA Neena Mittal received a notice for allegedly making a video of her casting vote at a polling booth in Rajpura.In a protest against an upcoming biogas plant that they feared would contaminate underground water and air, six villages in Ludhiana boycotted the polls.The Lok Sabha elections in Punjab saw several prominent candidates vying for seats. Preneet Kaur of the BJP sought re-election from the Patiala parliamentary constituency. Harsimrat Kaur Badal, a three-time MP, and the BJP's Parampal Kaur Sidhu, a former IAS officer, contested from Bathinda. Former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi of the Congress and BJP nominee Sushil Rinku were in the fray from the Jalandhar reserved constituency. Former Deputy CM Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa contested from Gurdaspur. Congress candidate Sukhpal Khaira contested from Sangrur, while AAP's Karamjit Singh Anmol and the BJP's Hans Raj Hans were in the fray from the Faridkot seat.In Chandigarh, BJP candidate Sanjay Tandon faced off against Congress nominee and former Union minister Manish Tewari.A total of 328 candidates, including 26 women, were in the fray in Punjab, while 19 candidates, including two women, contested the elections in Chandigarh. Punjab had 2,14,61,739 eligible voters, including 1,01,74,240 women and 773 third-gender electors. Chandigarh had 6,59,805 eligible voters.The polling process was conducted across a total of 24,451 polling stations, with 5,694 identified as critical. The Congress and AAP contested the polls separately, while the BJP and SAD fought the Lok Sabha elections on their own for the first time since 1996.