Tarn Taran records all-time low polling

Tarn Taran assembly segment, having urban voters, has recorded the lowest polling of 26 per cent and Patti around 45 per cent, the highest in this election. The opposition parties have levelled allegations of bogus voting by SAD workers at many places.

It is learnt that certain villages had en block abstained from polling in protest against failure of the ruling party to fulfill their poll promises. The ENS team, during a tour of the constituency, came across at least two villages, Sultanwind and Dau near Jandiala, where voters boycotted the election.

In Daleke, native village of Congress candidate Dilbag Singh Daleke, the polling was only 34 per cent. Similarly, in village Tur, the home of SAD candidate Tarlochan Singh Tur, polling was just around 35 per cent.

Political observers are of the view that chances of Congress victory were high due to low poll percentage but only if the Congress had taken this election seriously.

In fact, the low turn-out worried Badal, who had camped here for more than ten days. The emphasis of the ruling party was to increase the margin of victory, which now seems impossible.

Except for minor incidents, the election passed off peacefully, according to Deputy Commissioner Amarjit Singh.He said in Kale village, the presiding office was changed when found drunk. In Attari, a voter, Jaswant Singh, was found casting a bogus vote.

In Bhukiwind, a supporter of SAD and BSP (A) had a minor scuffle leaving one person injured who was admitted in the civil hospital, Tarn Taran.In Lidhar village, there was a scuffle between a DSP and SAD workers. The DSP is said to be the brother of a senior Youth Congress leader.