Usually, the turnout in rural areas is more than the urban areas as a nationwide trend. However, over the years, Punjab has seen a “lack of interest” in these polls. (File)
The turnout for the Zila Parishad and Block Samiti elections in Punjab nosedived 2- points from 68 per cent in 2008 to just 48.40 per cent in 2025.
Over the last decades, Punjab has seen a decline in turnout in its rural polls. While in 2013, 63 per cent voters cast their ballot, in 2018, the number was just 58.10 per cent in 2018 for elections to the Panchayati Raj institutions.
This year, the elections were held after seven years that too after a Punjab and Haryana High Court rap. During the SAD-BJP, and Congress regimes, rural polls took place after every five years, after the completion of the term of these elected bodies.
Usually, the turnout in rural areas is more than the urban areas as a nationwide trend. However, over the years, Punjab has seen a “lack of interest” in these polls.
This year, while Amritsar recorded the lowest turnout at 38.62 per cent, most people turned out to poll in Malerkotla at 56.37 per cent. Tarn Taran, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Patiala, Barnala, Ludhiana, Nawanshahar, Gurdaspur, Kapurthala, Moga, Sangrur all recorded below 50 per cent turnout.
The SAD-BJP combine was in power in both 2008 and 2013. Even then in 2013, the state saw a decline of 5 per cent in five years. In 2018, during the Congress regime, it fell by another 5 per cent. In 2025, during the incumbent AAP regime, the decline was steep — by 10 per cent.
The opposition has already dubbed the “low” turnout as “no confidence motion” against the AAP government. Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa said that the people had lost faith in the sanctity of elections after the “excesses” by the ruling party. He added that due to blatant misuse of the administration, people lost faith in the sanctity of elections. “It was a kind of silent protest. Choosing not to vote becomes a silent protest against a police-managed and compromised electoral process under the AAP government,” he said.
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Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar said that the people’s disinterest clearly showed that they were disillusioned with the government. “They thought that since defeating the government in these elections would not solve their problems, it was better to stay at home,” he said.
The SAD also accused the AAP of stealing the elections with the State Election Commission (SEC) and the Punjab Police and demanded a judicial probe into the functioning of the SEC as well as its immediate removal. Party spokesperson Daljit Cheema said Sunday that they would not take it lying down and would take all legal recourse.
Jagrup Singh Sekhon, a retired professor of political science from Guru Nanak Dev University in Amritsar, said that participation depends on the faith of people in institutions and institutional processes. “People have lost faith in these institutions and processes. This is not happening only in Punjab but is countrywide. The level of participation is not voluntary but involuntary. During the Akalis regime, excesses had surpassed all previous records. During Congress rule, it had declined and now the AAP has crossed all limits. They have no ideology and do not have an organisational structure at village level. They have gathered rowdy elements. The interest of the common voter is not there in the process of election anymore,” said Sekhon, who is an expert in Punjab politics.
Meanwhile, AAP spokesperson Baltej Pannu hit out at the Opposition stating that they were accusing AAP of stealing the elections but they had forgotten what used to happen in their regime. “Murder cases were registered during their regimes in the past. During AAP’s term, these elections have taken place peacefully. Repoll was ordered at 15 places but it was not because of any violence but because misprinted ballot papers with wrong symbols were issued,” he said.
Kanchan Vasdev is a Senior Assistant Editor in The Indian Express’ Punjab bureau. She is a highly experienced journalist with 22 years of expertise covering high-stakes politics, governance, and social issues in Northern India.
Professional Background
Role: Primary reporter covering the Punjab Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), government policies, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leadership in the state.
Experience: She previously worked with The Tribune and has played a key role in launching various city editions.
Special Projects:
Abandoned Brides: Authored a monograph on brides abandoned by NRIs as part of the Prabha Dutt Memorial Fellowship.
Environment: Worked as a Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) fellow, focusing on the pollution levels in the Satluj river.
Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025)
Her recent reporting focuses on the legislative strategies and political maneuvers of the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government:
1. Legislative & Governance Standoffs
"Punjab govt advances special Assembly session to pass resolution against VB-G RAM G Bill" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the state's move to block the Centre's "Viksit Bharat" mission, which the state claims will undermine MGNREGA.
"Punjab govt doubles down on special sessions, sixth in January" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing the AAP government's use of special sessions as a legislative tool amid tensions with the Governor.
"Punjab asks 'VIP teachers' working near Chandigarh to go back to border districts" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on CM Mann's move to end the practice of influential teachers avoiding postings in remote areas.
2. Political Analysis & Rural Polls
"Punjab rural polls: Why Akalis are likened to dinosaurs in Punjab" (Dec 19, 2025): Analyzing CM Bhagwant Mann's rhetoric against the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) following local body elections.
"AAP claims win in 78% Punjab zila parishads as counting continues" (Dec 18, 2025): Breaking down the results of the 2025 rural elections.
"Rahul Gandhi and Sidhu alike, says Bhagwant Mann" (Dec 13, 2025): Covering the CM's critique of the Congress leadership.
3. Law Enforcement & Bureaucracy
"Suspended Punjab IPS officer Ravjot Kaur Grewal awaits reinstatement" (Dec 10, 2025): Investigative reporting on the bureaucratic red tape involving the Election Commission and the state government.
"Punjab declines to give parole to Amritpal Singh" (Nov 27, 2025): Detailing the state government's refusal to grant parole to the radical preacher and sitting MP.
4. Welfare & Economy
"Punjab government's plan to add more freebies to 'atta-dal' scheme hits funds roadblock" (Dec 4, 2024): An analysis of the fiscal challenges facing the state's flagship food security program.
"Mann leads Punjab delegation to Japan and South Korea for investor outreach" (Dec 2, 2025).
Signature Beat
Kanchan Vasdev is known for her insider access to Punjab's political executive. Her writing provides deep insights into how state policies are formulated and the friction points between the state government and central authorities. Her dual expertise in environment and law allows her to report on complex issues like the "Farmhouse Policy" (Dec 18, 2025) and river pollution with a unique policy-oriented lens.
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