E-Paper
Juneja first to reach booth in Patiala
With a 60% voter turnout in the Patiala Urban bypoll, there was an 8% drop in the number of people who exercised their right as compared to the 68.14% during the 2012 assembly polls. The Lok Sabha polls had then seen a 66% voter turnout.
With a 60% voter turnout in the Patiala Urban bypoll, there was an 8% drop in the number of people who exercised their right as compared to the 68.14% during the 2012 assembly polls. The Lok Sabha polls had then seen a 66% voter turnout.
However, with no incidents of violence across the constituency on polling day, the byelection was peaceful.
SAD-BJP candidate Bhagwan Dass Juneja, along with his family members was the first to reach the Yadavindra Public School around 7:30 am, to cast his vote. Meanwhile, Congress candidate Preneet Kaur and her husband and former chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh reached the polling booth with their cavalcade of supporters.
Deputy commissioner-cum district electoral officer Varun Roojam said, "The election was peaceful and we congratulate and thank all voters for participating enthusiastically in this democratic process."
SSP Hardial Singh Mann thanked the people and appreciated the efforts of the police and paramilitary staff in maintaining law and order.
However, though polling started at 7am, it went on at snail pace as only 10% voting was recorded till 10 am. The sweltering heat affected the process and the booths wore a deserted look in the afternoon hours, only to resume after 2 pm. The last three hours saw only 30% voters.
FOUR WOMEN ARRESTED
Mean while, the police rounded up four women while they tried to cast bogus votes at the booth in Yadavindra Public School. The police said the arrested women had come to vote using names of other voters registered in the electoral roll.
