Punjab By-Elections: 63.91% Voter Turnout; Gidderbaha Tops with 81.90% Polling

Chandigarh: A voter turnout of 63.91% was recorded in by-elections for Punjab's four assembly segments, with Gidderbaha witnessing highest polling at 81.90%, officials announced on Thursday.

By-Election Details

Polling was held on Wednesday for Gidderbaha, Dera Baba Nanak, Chabbewal (SC), and Barnala assembly segments. elections were necessitated after sitting legislators were elected to Lok Sabha.

Out of 6.96 lakh eligible voters across se constituencies, 4.45 lakh exercised ir franchise, including 2.15 lakh women voters, according to officials.

segment-wise polling percentages are as follows:

• Gidderbaha: 81.90%
• Dera Baba Nanak: 64.01%
• Barnala: 56.34%
• Chabbewal: 53.43%

In comparison, 2022 assembly polls h higher voter turnouts: Gidderbaha (84.93%), Dera Baba Nanak (73.70%), Barnala (71.45%), and Chabbewal (71.19%).

Key Contenders and Political Dynamics

main contesting parties in se bypolls were  Aam Ami Party (AAP), Congress, and BJP.  Shiromani Akali Dal (S) chose not to participate.

Prominent candidates included:

• AAP: Hardeep Singh Dimpy Dhillon and Ishank Kumar Chabbewal
• Congress: Amrita Warring and Jatinder Kaur
• BJP: Manpreet Singh Bal, Kewal Singh Dhillon, Sohan Singh Thandal, and Ravikaran Singh Kahlon

Notably, Amrita Warring is wife of Congress' Punjab chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, and Jatinder Kaur is married to Gurdaspur MP and former deputy CM Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa.

Current Assembly Strength

AAP holds a strong position in Punjab Assembly with 91 MLAs out of 117. Congress has 15 MLAs, followed by Shiromani Akali Dal (3), BJP (2), and Bahujan Samaj Party (1).

results of by-elections will likely influence state's political dynamics, especially with AAP's dominance being challenged by Congress and BJP in key constituencies.