Elections 2022: Punjab records 71.95 pc voter turnout, lowest in 15 years

Chandigarh, February 20: Punjab Assembly elections 2022 concluded on Sunday with the state recording an average voter turnout of 71.95 percent, which is lower as compared to voter turnout in 2017 when it was over 77 percent. Punjab's 2022 voter turnout is the lowest in 15 years as it was 77.04 percent in 2017, 78.3 percent in 2012, and 75.4 percent in 2007. Also Read | Punjab Elections 2022 Highlights: Total turnout nearly 70 percent According to the Election Commission of India (ECI)'s data, Mansa recorded the highest voter turnout with 77.21 percent followed by Sri Muktsar sahib with 74.12 percent. In Sangrur, the voter turnout was 71.45 percent, 72.84 percent in Malerkotla, 71 percent in Patiala, 73.59 percent in Fazilka, and 73.79 percent in Bathinda. Voter turnout was low in Ludhiana (60.29 percent). This election, Punjab witnessed a multi-cornered contest this time with Congress, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Shiromani Akali Dal-Bahujan Samaj Party alliance, and the coalition of Bharatiya Janata Party-former chief minister Amarinder Singh's Punjab Lok Congress party as key players. Congress named incumbent Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi as their CM face, while AAP has field Bhagwant Mann, who is contesting from the Dhuri, as its CM face. Channi is contesting from two seats - Chamkaur Sahib and Bhadaur. Amritsar (East) is also witnessing a key battle where Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu is pitted against Shiromani Akali Dal's (SAD) Bikram Singh Majithia, who is the brother-in-law of SAD President Sukhbir Singh Badal. There were 2,14,99,804 voters for Punjab Assembly elections 2022 who were eligible to exercise their franchise on Sunday. The counting of votes will be done on March 10. Also Read | SAD-BSP will win 80-plus seats in Punjab, says Sukhbir Singh Badal amid voting -PTC News