SAD-BJP alliance, Cong confident of improving tally
The roads and streets in the towns and villages of Punjab were virtually converted into gullies with the voters gushing through it towards the polling booths. But even political observers are finding it tough to say whether the high tide of voters during the parliamentary polls in the State was a result of 'Modi wave' or an undercurrent of anti-incumbency against the ruling combine in Punjab.
Where the Congress party, on one hand, has all along been claiming to increase its tally of eight seats in this lok Sabha polls in Punjab, the SAD-BJP combine, on the other, is all confident of bagging a fair share of votes in its favour to form the NDA-led Government at the Centre.
But, it is to be seen whether the anti-incumbency at the national level against the Congress was stronger than the anti-incumbency the ruling alliance in Punjab is facing. It is to be seen whether the high voter turnout, similar to 2012 State Assembly polls, would defy the anti-incumbency factor or it would go with the generally-accepted notion of 'voting for the change'.
In all, over 70 per cent voters, out of 1.95 crores, exercised their franchise in 11 hours polling process on Wednesday to seal the fate of as many as 253 candidates in the electronic voting machines (EVMs). The percentage may be revised when the final tally becomes available.
During last lok Sabha election-2009, the overall voter turnout was 69.6 per cent with Bathinda witnessing highest turnout at 78.41 per cent, while lowest was recorded in ludhiana with 64.64 per cent.
The result of many stalwarts, including the leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley, former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, former Union Minister Ambika Soni, Union Minister Preneet Kaur, daughter-in-law of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal Harsimrat Kaur, and many others, would not be kept safe in the EVMs, ad would be declared along with other stated on May 16 -- the day counting of votes.
Expected to throw many surprises, the elections in Punjab this time took an interesting turn after the entry of Aam Aadmi party in the electoral field. The party has made, what used to be a direct contest between the Congress and the SAD-BJP alliance, a triangular fight by making inroads in not only the urban, but rural pockets in many of the districts too.
Political observers believed that the AAP may be a game-changer in the constituencies of Sangrur, Gurdaspur, Patiala, Faridkot, and ludhiana primarily. The AAP has fielded comedian-turned-politician Bhagwant Mann from Sangrur who is receiving huge support, especially from the youth.
Mann is facing Akali stalwart Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and Congress' sitting MP Vijay Inder Singla. In Gurdaspur, AAP's Sucha Singh Chhottepur has given sleepless nights to State Congress chief and sitting MP Partap Singh Bajwa and three-time former BJP MP Vinod Khanna.
Doctor by profession, Dr Dharamvira Gandhi in Patiala is also getting sizeable support, against three-time MP Preneet Kaur and SAD-BJP's Deepinder Singh Dhillon. Renowned Prof Sadhu Singh has also drawn great attention in Faridkot against sitting Akali MP Paramjit Kaur Gulshan and Congress' MlA Joginder Singh Panjgrain.
Known for fighting for 1984 riot victims, senior Supreme Court lawyer Harvinder Singh Phoolka is AAP's candidate in ludhiana. In his first electoral battle, Phoolka is in a four-cornered contest against Anandpur Sahib MP Ravneet Singh Bittu, Akali's Dakha MlA Manpreet Singh Ayali, and independent candidate Simarjeet Singh Bains.
Political observers believed that Phoolka and Bains are expected to cross the two-lakh mark, harming the prospects of the Congress and SAD-BJP.
The main contest that has attracted the eyeballs across the nation was between BJP's Arun Jaitley and Congress' Capt Amarinder Singh. In another close contest, Bathinda MP Harsimrat is facing her cousin brother-in-law Manpreet Badal in Bathinda.
After casting her vote in lambi village along with her father-in-law Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, husband and deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal, and her daughter, Harsimrat said that there was anti-incumbency against the UPA government and the NDA will come to power at the Centre.
Manpreet, after voting, said that there is "misgovernance" in Punjab with mafias controlling all businesses. "The polls are about the pride of Punjab...We (Congress) will bring rule of law in the state," he said.
Exercising his franchise in Qadian in Gurdaspur along with his MlA wife Charanjit Kaur, Bajwa claimed that SAD-BJP will be wiped out of Punjab as Congress is set to win all 13 seats.
Capt Amarinder expressed confidence that when the votes will be counted on May 16, Congress will emerge victorious all over particularly in Amritsar.
THOSE WHO DID NOT VOTE
Despite having enrolled as voters in Punjab, some of the prominent leaders preferred to give a miss to cast their vote…
Former Union Minister Ambika Soni Former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh Amritsar MP Navjot Singh Sidhu