65.32% turnout in Punjab, 60.46% in Uttar Pradesh phase 3

The turnout in Punjab was down by around 12% in comparison to 2017 election

Polling in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh (Phase III) Assembly elections on Sunday was largely peaceful, with 65.32% turnout in Punjab and 60.46% in Uttar Pradesh, according to the Election Commission.

The turnout in Punjab was down by around 12% in comparison to the 2017 elections, when 77.40% voters exercised their franchise in the State. As the State witnessed a lower voter turnout, speculations were rife among political observers about “tactical understanding between traditional parties”.

Meanwhile, a total of 59 Assembly seats, spread over 16 districts in Uttar Pradesh, went to the polls in Phase III, with 627 candidates in the fray. Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Ajay Kumar Shukla said polling had gone off peacefully and the turnout numbers would go up.

Mr. Shukla said 0.36% of ballot and control units and 1.36% of VVPATs were changed during polling, till 5 p.m. During the mock poll before the polling began, 0.86% of ballot units, 0.71% of control units and 0.99% of VVPATs were changed. In the third phase, there were 133 candidates who had declared criminal cases against them.

On the eve of polling in Punjab, a purported video of Punjab BJP president Ashwani Sharma had gone viral on social media. The video showed Mr. Sharma addressing a gathering, stating “..a vote for AAP means a vote to break Punjab.. If you don't want to vote for us (BJP), vote for Congress. But don't vote for them who betrays the nation.” Mr. Sharma, however, dismissed it by asserting that his statement was twisted to mislead people. The BJP even filed a complaint with the Election Commission, accusing the Congress of ‘doctoring’ the video and demanded action.

“There is speculation that the traditional parties in power may have some tactical understanding in some constituencies. Some constituencies have very high voter turnout while some others have very low, why?,” asked Ashutosh Kumar, Professor of Political Science at Panjab University.

Pointing out that the low turnout could be attributed to the absence of any wave of a particular political party and the absence of any State-level leader who could emerge as the vote mobiliser, Mr. Kumar said, “Another factor for the lower turnout could be the general disillusionment of ordinary voter from the contestant parties, besides populist promises also seem to have lost seductive value.”