Riding high on “Modi wave” once again, the Bharatiya Janata Party managed to retain Chandigarh’s lone Lok Sabha seat.
BJP’s MP Kirron Kher remained “fortunate” for the second time in a row defeating Congress’ old war horse-Pawan Kumar Bansal in Chandigarh, the joint capital of neighboring states of Punjab and Haryana.
The actor turned politician, Kher trounced former Union Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal with a margin of more than 46900 votes. Aam Aadmi Party’s Harmohan Dhawan finished at third spot followed by Bahujan Samaj Party’s candidate Parveen Kumar.
Kher was polled 231188 votes (50.64) percent, while his nearest rival Bansal got 184218 votes (40.35).
In 2014 general elections, Kirron Kher had defeated former four-time MP Bansal with a margin of around 70000 votes.
This time, there were a total of 36 candidates in the fray from Chandigarh parliamentary seat, which went to polling on May 19. The city had witnessed 70.62 per cent voter turnout.
As many as 4335 city residents accounting for 0.95 percent of the total votes polled, preferred None of the Above (NOTA) option instead of favoring any candidates in the poll fray from Chandigarh parliamentary seat. NOTA, which stands for 'None Of The Above', was an option available to voters who did not want to vote in favour of any candidate standing for a particular constituency in Lok Sabha polls.
After party’s victory, the mood was jubilant at the BJP KAMLAM office at Sector 33 here with party supporters sporting saffron-coloured caps and offering desi ghee ladoos to celebrate.
Amid shouting slogans like “Har Har Modi”, “Narendra Modi Zindabad”, the party workers danced to the vibrating beats of dhol nagadas to celebrate the beginning of second term of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In the union territory of Chandigarh, the Congress had pitched its campaign on “local” issues while the BJP was banking on “Modi factor” and nationalism plank to beat the anti-incumbency.
Kher, who became the city’s first woman MP in 2014 had remained under attack from her opponents for “guest appearance” and “lack of focus” in the city due to her shuttling between Mumbai and Chandigarh during her five years tenure. However, she managed to register second consecutive victory on Chandigarh’s Lok Sabha seat, due to Modi wave.
To give a boost to party’s poll prospects in the city, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP chief Amit Shah had addressed election rallies here. Kirron Kher husband, noted actor Anupam Kher had also intensively campaigned for her.
Political experts feel that Chandigarh being an urban city, Modi factor worked here in favor of Kirron Kher. Akin to national level, the Congress failed to counter Modi factor in the city, they say.
In the last general elections 2014, Kher was polled 191362 votes (42.20 percentage vote share) against her main rival Congress’ Bansal, who got 121270 (26.84 percent vote share) votes in his favor.
Seeking mandate for a second term in Chandigarh, Kher had promised mono-rail project for Chandigarh, regularization of changes to the houses, one time settlement of all issues related to Chandigarh Housing Board houses, ensuring 24 hours water supply, preference to Chandigarh residents for jobs in Chandigarh, resolving all parking problems, implementation of 6th pay commission among other things to the people of the city.
After her victory, Kirron Kher, while talking to the mediapersons thanked party office bearers and workers for working day and night to make the win possible.
She also thanked people of Chandigarh for faith shown in the BJP for the second time and promised to work for the development of the city.
Congress candidate Pawan Kumar Bansal, while accepting people’s verdict, congratulate Kirron Kher on her victory from Chandigarh.
