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ON January 30, people of Punjab recorded the
highest ever turnout of voters in elections. As
per the records of the Election Commission of
India, there were total 1.77 crore registered
voters in the state this time. Out of these, 76.63
per cent voters exercised their right to vote.
Amongst the three regions of Punjab, Malwa topped
with 80 per cent turnout and Majha lagged behind
with 71 per cent.
 The voting process, more or less, remained
peaceful with a few incidents of violence, a few
FIRs and a murder in Ferozepur. However, the
participation of youth was significant in these
elections.
Apart from the highest-ever election turnout, the
youth participation, emergence of a third
alternative led by Manpreet Badal, around 1,000
voters choosing the ‘no vote’ option, the 2012
elections set forth many new trends.
But these elections will, of course, be remembered
for the tough approach of the Election Commission.
In these elections, it was for the first time that
some check on the free flow of liquor, money,
drugs and muscle power to woo the voters was
noticed.
The outcome of the stern approach of the Election
Commission is here: As per the press reports,
around 7 lakh bottles of country liquor, 2.2 lakh
kg lahan, 9.5 lakh illicit litre liquor and a
large quantity of other banned substances like
capsules, tablets, syrup bottles, smack, poppy
husk, opium and heroin were recovered during these
elections.
Meanwhile, despite a watchful Election Commission,
there were some reports in the press from Malwa
region that votes were being purchased for Rs
1,000.
Finding a way out against the tough approach of
the Election Commission, the candidates were also
seen devising ‘innovative ways’ like paying
electricity and water bills of the voters, paying
at ration shops for the voters, making commitments
to pay back after the polls, etc. Still, the
Election Commission will be remembered for
conducting fair and fearless elections.
Though it is still unclear as to what kind of an
impact will the Election Commission’s stern
approach leave on the election results, which will
be out on March 6; however, the recovery of this
stuff indicates how degenerated our entire poll
process was; how the elections were being
conducted so far; what were the key factors that
decided the electoral victory… Liquor, poppy husk,
opium, money: Is this what the world’s largest
democracy was all about?
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