CHANDIGARH: The Chandigarh Election Commission failed to provide adequate tents for voters, leading to discomfort and frustration among the electorate.
Despite its status as a Smart City, Chandigarh showed poor management on voting day, with a significant lack of amenities for voters. Promised facilities like water, shade, and tents were absent in many areas, forcing people to stand in the scorching sun, according to reports.
The Chandigarh Election Commission failed to provide adequate tents for voters, leading to discomfort and frustration among the electorate.
By 5 PM, a voter turnout of 55.20 was recorded in Punjab’s 13 Lok Sabha constituencies, while Chandigarh saw a turnout of 62.8 % by 5 PM. Officials stated that polling commenced at 7 AM under tight security and will continue until 6 PM.
Among the 13 constituencies in Punjab, Bathinda recorded the highest turnout at 59.25% till 5 PM, followed by Sangrur at 57.21%. Other notable turnouts included Patiala 58.18%, Amritsar at 48.55%, Anandpur Sahib at 55.02%, and Gurdaspur at 58.34%, as per Election Commission data.
Voters, including elders, women, and youngsters, started queuing early in the morning at several polling stations.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, state BJP chief Sunil Jakhar, AAP leader Raghav Chadha, and others were among the early voters. Various political candidates and leaders, including Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, Congress candidate Gurjeet Singh Aujla, and Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal, also cast their votes. Ayushman Khurrana also cast his vote in Chandigarh.
In Ferozepur, BSP candidate Surinder Kamboj was booked for filming his vote at a polling booth. Additionally, an EVM malfunctioned at a polling booth in Muktsar’s Khuddian village.
Notable candidates include BJP nominee Preneet Kaur seeking re-election from Patiala, Harsimrat Kaur Badal from Bathinda, and Charanjit Singh Channi from Jalandhar. Khalistani Radical Amritpal Singh is contesting from Khadoor Sahib, while former diplomat Taranjit Singh Sandhu is in the fray from Amritsar.
In Chandigarh, BJP candidate Sanjay Tandon faces Congress nominee Manish Tewari. A total of 328 candidates, including 26 women, are competing in Punjab, while 19 candidates, including two women, are contesting in Chandigarh.
Officials assured that provisions such as drinking water, shade, ‘chabeel’ (sweetened water), and medical kits, including ORS, were arranged at polling stations due to the heat wave conditions. However, the implementation of these measures appeared insufficient in many areas in Punjab and Chandigarh.
In Ajnala, two unidentified motorcycle-borne assailants allegedly shot dead Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) activist Deepinder Singh, alias Deepu, and injured four others on Friday night.
The assailants fled the scene, and police are investigating. This incident occurred amid ongoing polling in Punjab.