Punjab Polls: Over 71.95% voters turnout recorded: CEO Dr Raju

On Sunday, polling for the Punjab Assembly Elections ended peacefully, with 71.95 percent of the state’s total 2.14 crore voters exercising their right to vote. He stated there were 81,33,930 men and 73,35,406 females among the 1,54,69,618 people who voted, with 282 being Transgender/Others.

Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Punjab Dr. S Karuna Raju announced the final numbers on Monday, saying that out of the state’s 117 constituencies, Gidderbaha had the highest polling percentage of 84.93 percent, followed by Talwandi Sabo (83.70 percent) and Sardulgarh (83.64 percent), while Amritsar West (55.40 percent), Ludhiana South (59.04 percent), and Amritsar Central (59. The Office of the Chief Electoral Officer has received the scrutiny reports from all 23 districts, he said.

On polling day in the state, he claimed, almost 23 tonnes of COVID trash, which included PPE Kits, face masks, hand gloves, face shields, and other items, was generated from 24740 polling stations. He added that the waste was collected and disposed of in an environmentally safe manner with the help of District Nodal Officers of the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) designated in each district.

Dr. Raju said that some minor poll-related incidents were reported in the state, and that a total of 33 First Information Reports (FIRs) were filed on election day to prevent any untoward incidents. Ten FIRs were related to Minor Clashes, 16 to violations of prohibitory orders, three to poll-related offences, three to other instances, and one to a Firing Incident, out of a total of 33 FIRs.

All Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) have been moved to their respective Strong Rooms, according to Dr. Raju, after voting ended peacefully at 6 p.m. on Sunday. All 117 Strong Rooms in 66 locations have been sealed, and three-tier security measures have been implemented in accordance with ECI recommendations, including the deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), Armed Police, and Punjab Police. Security troops have been stationed in Strong Rooms 24 hours a day, seven days a week, he said. He went on to say that throughout the polling process, 65 ballot units, 60 control units, and 738 VVPATs had to be changed.

Dr. Raju praised the Punjabi people again for turning out in great numbers to exercise their democratic rights in a calm festive atmosphere. He also thanked all poll workers, security personnel, Punjab Police personnel, 25000 Booth Level Officers (BLO), PWD coordinators, Asha workers, Aanganwadi workers, Mid-Day-Meal workers, and Village Chowkidars for working around the clock to ensure free, fair, peaceful, and inclusive elections in the state.