Khadoor Sahib bypoll: Boycott call dips polling to 58 percent only

KHADOOR SAHIB, Punjab—In a major embarrassment to ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal), Khadoor Sahib voters on Saturday gave considerable response to the boycott’s call given by various parties and organizations in protest against Punjab government for not arresting culprits of sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib.  The poll percentage dipped to approximately 58 percent which was more than 80 percent in last assembly elections of 2012. In Lok Sabha elections of 2014, it was 69 percent.

As Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was also not in fray, the voters did not show any enthusiasm toward polling which is being considered a major setback for the ruling party which was keen to increase polling percentage and victory margin. 

The low poll percentage has created worrisome situation for the SAD (B) considering the fact that the general elections to the Punjab assembly are just a year away. As there was no polling agent of independent candidates in polling stations, the entire process was under control of the SAD (B) workers. As per sources, of 58 percent, votes cast to SAD (B) are only 35 percent and rest of the votes are “bogus”. In order to escape from embarrassment, they were seen  to cast “bogus” votes. 

It may be recalled that Congress leader Ramanjit Singh Sikki resigned from the post of MLA on the issue of sacrilege of the Guru Granth Sahib in the assembly segment still remained to be solved.