Punjab Poll Day Diary

BJP candidate booked in Ludhiana West

Kamal Chatly, BJP candidate from Ludhiana West, was booked for trespassing and assaulting supporters of Congress candidate Bharat Bhushan Ashu at his BRS Nagar office. Chatly had alleged that stock of liquor was lying in the Congress candidate’s office for distribution to the voters. On BJP’s complaint police raided the office but found nothing.

EVMs with VVPAT develop snags in many booths

The Election Commission had to replace EVMs with VVPAT which developed snags in a large number of booths. After even the reserve stock of VVPAT EVMs were exhausted, normal EVMs were used, but this delayed polling in a few places.

Navjot Singh Sidhu promises a gift to Rahul Gandhi

Congress candidate from Amritsar East Navjot Singh Sidhu declared after casting his vote that the certain Congress win in Punjab will be his ‘big gift’ to Rahul Gandhi.

Congress, AAP seek action against SAD in Lambi

Congress CM candidate Capt Amarinder Singh and AAP’s Jarnail Singh have sought action against SAD leader Gurbakhshish Singh ‘Vicky’ Middukhera and his son Gurlal Singh for allegedly distributing money at Hakkuwala village in Lambi constituency. Both alleged that Middukhera, when confronted by villagers had fled, abandoning his Toyota Fortuner.

Liquor and cash not working this time

Several other instances have been reported of people refusing to be bribed, people waiting in the cold demanding cases to be registered for violation of poll code, of people attacking a godown in Bathinda with one lakh bottles of liquor and detaining a van allegedly carrying Rs 19 lakh in cash. Neither liquor nor cash this time seem to be working in large parts of Punjab.

An anti-Badal wave

The focus of Badals this time is development, peace and harmony, but nobody is buying it. Capt Amarinder Singh has been talking about the total failure of governance, lack of opportunities for the youth and loss of an entire generation to drugs. But the crux of Punjab problem is neither lack of development nor corruption. The issue this time is people’s complete rejection of the arrogance shown by the political class, it doesn’t matter to them who wins, the only agenda before the voter is, not to let the Akalis come back,” says Sarabjit Pandher, a senior analyst of Punjab politics.

Heated exchanges between Congress and SAD in Majitha

Punjab minister and SAD candidate Bikram Singh Majithia and Congress nominee Sukhjinder Raj Singh Lalli Majithia had an heated exchange of words after the former raised objection over the Congress candidate allegedly bringing vehicles inside the polling station. "Do not break the rules," a visibly charged Bikram Singh Majithia told his opponent, who retorted with a "Do not cry when you are losing."

With PTI inputs.