Stage is set for counting of votes in Ludhiana West bypoll on Monday.
Ludhiana: Security has been tightened, the strong room sealed, and the counting staff finalised as Ludhiana West braces for a high-stakes byelection result on Monday that could have far-reaching implications for Punjab's political landscape.
The bypoll was triggered by the death of
Aam Aadmi Party
(AAP) legislator Gurpreet Bassi Gogi in Jan. The constituency will see a fierce contest among 14 candidates, including AAP's Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora, Congress veteran Bharat Bhushan Ashu, Bharatiya Janata Party's Jeewan Gupta, and Shiromani Akali Dal's Parupkar Singh Ghuman. Voting on June 19 recorded a turnout of just 51.33%.
Counting is scheduled to begin at 8 am at Khalsa College for Women in Ghumar Mandi and is expected to conclude by early afternoon, election officials have said.
Results are likely between noon and 1 pm.
Security & Counting Setup
Returning officer R P Singh confirmed that 14 counting tables, along with one for postal and electronically transmitted postal ballots, have been arranged. Each table will have a dedicated team comprising a supervisor, assistant, micro-observer, and helper.
To ensure transparency and security, a three-tier system has been enforced at the counting centre: local police in the outer layer, state armed police in the middle, and paramilitary forces inside.
EVMs (electronic voting machines) are stored under 24-hour CCTV surveillance. Entry to the counting hall will be restricted to authorised candidates and their designated agents.
General observer Rajeev Kumar and district election officer Himanshu Jain conducted final inspections on Sunday and confirmed the arrangements. The duo also oversaw the second randomisation of 72 counting staff — comprising 24 supervisors, 24 assistants, and 24 micro-observers — to prevent procedural bias.
A final round of randomisation will occur on Monday morning before counting begins.
Dry day for 3 km
To maintain public order during counting, district magistrate Himanshu Jain has declared June 23 a dry day under the Punjab Excise Act and Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023. All liquor outlets, hotels, clubs, and bars in Ludhiana West and within a 3-km radius are barred from storing or selling alcohol for the day.
Jain has directed strict compliance from all relevant authorities. He also reaffirmed that all electronic voting and VVPAT machines are under constant watch and guarded by paramilitary personnel.
Battle history
Ludhiana West has witnessed dramatic electoral swings over the years, with Congress holding the seat for much of the past two decades until losing it to AAP in 2022. With the political stakes sky-high and security tight, Ludhiana West's by-election is poised to offer not just a new MLA, but a glimpse into the evolving mood of Punjab's electorate.
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