Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday said heatwave and paddy transplantation were responsible for low voter turnout in Thursday’s Sangrur Lok Sabha bypoll.
Mann told on the first day of the budget session of the assembly Indian Express, “Voters were busy with paddy transplantation and moreover it was a hot day. Hence the voting percentage was low.
The Sangrur seat fell vacant after Bhagwant Mann contested and won the Punjab Assembly elections held in February.
Asked whether low turnout was an indicator of the declining popularity of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party-led party, Mann said, “Wait tomorrow. you will find out. The results will be declared on Sunday.”
During the by-election, 45.3 percent polling was recorded in Sangrur. Mann had urged the Election Commission (EC) to extend the polling time by two hours. The government had also officially demanded to increase the polling hours. The Election Commission had sought an explanation from the Chief Secretary of Punjab and the DC of Sangrur for extending the cleaning period and trying to influence the voters.
Low turnout has become a matter of concern for the political parties in the state. While it is generally believed that low turnout favors the ruling party and high turnout usually indicates an anti-incumbency wave, opposition parties say Sangrur is a strange case. AAP had formed the government in Punjab three months back with a huge mandate. The party won 92 seats out of 117 and still turned out to be less than 50 percent of the electorate in the constituency.
Mann has been a two-time MP from Sangrur. He vacated the seat after being elected to the assembly from Dhuri.