Gurdaspur electorate has finally ‘passed’ the Congress party for its Government’s six-month performance, while “failing” the saffron party and its ally, SAD, for its national policies, coupled with the controversies that marred its electoral campaign.
For Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the result was humiliating as its candidate, Major General (retired) Suresh Kumar Khajuria, could not save his security deposit.
Congress candidate and the state party unit chief Sunil Jakhar won the Gurdaspur bye-election with a highest ever margin of 1,93,219 votes in the constituency defeating SAD-BJP combine candidate Sawarn Singh Salaria.
Earlier, Congress’ Sukhbans Kaur Bhinder was holding the record of highest margin win in Gurdaspur constituency of 1.51 lakh votes in 1980.
Jakhar has received 4,99,752 votes against 3,06,553 votes casted for the runner up Salaria. AAP’s Khajuria bagged only 23,579 votes.
leading in all the nine assembly segments falling under the Gurdaspur parliamentary constituency, Jakhar’s victory margin is huge as voter turnout was only 56 percent against 70 percnet witnessed in 2014 polls on the same seat when Bollywood yesteryears’ superstar Vinod Khanna defeated Congress candidate Partap Singh Bajwa with a margin of 1.36 lakh votes. Seat fell vacant after Khanna’s death earlier this year.
Congress holds seven out of the nine assembly segments. Among these, Jakhar won by a handsome margin of 44,074 votes in Dera Baba Nanak assembly seat - represented by Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa.
The outcome of Dera Baba Nanak seat also reflected people’s reaction to the controvery involving SAD’s former minister Sucha Singh langah, who had had been siting MlA from the seat and had unsuccessfully contested in 2012 and 2017 assembly elections.
langah was booked in a rape case on September 28, just at the start of election campaign of Gurdaspur parliamentary by-election. The attention of the whole campaign shifted to his alleged crime.
BJP had won Sujanpur assembly constituency in 2017 Punjab assembly elections as its candidate Dinesh Singh Babu had defeated Congress’ Amit Singh by 18,701 votes. Jakhar, however, got lead of 6,701 votes from Sujanpur in the result declared on Sunday.
SAD candidate lakhbir Singh lodhinangal had also won Batala seat by votes in 2017 assembly elections. Jakhar, however, got handsome lead of 26,255 votes from Batala.
Gurdaspur is a Hindu dominating parliamentary constituency and the Congress candidate had also asked for votes for the alleged centre’s failure on demonization and GST issues.
Congress candidate was always a favourite in this election. However, the big margin of victory could turn out to be an embarrassment for BJP.
After winning elections, Jakhar said “I had said it from the very first day that this election will be a mandate on the policies of Union government led by Modi. People have vent their anger against demonitisation and GST by making me an MP with a huge margin of votes. I had asked people to vote for me against BJP’s economic and communal agenda. People have responded to my call and it has sent a clear message to the Union government on behalf of the whole country that people are fed up of its policies and it is time for change.”
He said “This election is also a victory for the development agenda of Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh-led state government. The waiver of farmers loan and steps to revive the economy of Punjab. People have honoured Congress government for work done in the last six months in the state.”
BJP candidate Salaria said: “I congratulate Sunil Jakhar on his victory. At the same time, everyone knows that Congress has won this election by rigging. Government machinery was misused to influence voters. All the officials were given targets. There was a clear warning for the people that they would be implicated in false police cases if they vote for BJP.”
AAP candidate Khajuria repeated party’s stand on EVMs. “Congress has done everything to win this election. They have tampered with EVM machines. They have used the police to keep voters at home.”