Punjab Elections 2022 Live updates: Amid low turnout in Malwa, Muktsar sees 78.47% polling

Punjab Elections 2022 Live updates: Amid low turnout in Malwa, Muktsar sees 78.47% polling

Punjab Elections 2022 Live updates: Amid low turnout in Malwa, Muktsar sees 78.47% polling

Chandigarh : Dithering till the very end, nearly 70 per cent voters turned out to elect the 16th Punjab Vidhan Sabha on Sunday. The usual hustle-bustle at polling booths was missing. Only those supporting the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) spoke animatedly about their political affiliation. Party workers of the ruling Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) maintained a stoic silence.

As The Tribune team traversed through the length and breadth of the state, it was evident that traditional parties had managed to retain their cadre vote though in several constituencies workers seemed reluctant to throw their weight behind candidates fielded by allies because of the “choice” of the candidate or infighting, or both. Farmers’ political outfit, the Sanyukt Samaj Morcha, which had hoped to benefit from the successful farmers’ stir, failed to catch the fancy of voters.

 In Chamkaur Sahib, one of the two constituencies where CM Charanjit Singh Channi is in the fray, urban and semi-urban voters in Morinda and Chamkaur Sahib said they were backing him because of the development works he had initiated during the past three months. However,in rural areas, AAP seemed to have the edge.

In Nawanshahr, the Congress could be at a disadvantage owing to the rebellion by Angad Saini, who is contesting as an Independent. This could benefit BSP’s Nachhatar Pal Singh. In Banga, the party fielded Tarlochan Soondh a few days prior to the closing of nominations. The delay in his nomination seems to have benefited Akali Dal’s Sukhwinder Sukhi. 

AAP, though popular among the economically weaker sections, is unlikely to do well in the Doaba belt. The BJP-led alliance seems to have done well in Jalandhar district.