Chandigarh, 20 November 2024: Punjab witnessed a 63% voter turnout by 6 pm in the by-elections for four Vidhan Sabha seats, according to Chief Electoral Officer Sibin C.
Final data will be available after polling parties return to collection centres for data entry.
Giddarbaha recorded the highest turnout at 81%, followed by 63% in Dera Baba Nanak, 54% in Barnala, and 53% in Chabewal.
Sibin C lauded the efforts of Deputy Commissioners, election officials, Punjab Police, Central Armed Police Forces, polling officers, and volunteers for ensuring safe and smooth polling.
By-elections, also known as special elections, are elections held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regular election cycles.
By-elections in the four districts of Punjab—Barnala, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, and Sri Muktsar Sahib—are being held because the sitting MLAs from these constituencies vacated their seats after being elected as Members of Parliament during the Lok Sabha elections.
In Barnala, AAP MLA Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer was elected as MP from Sangrur.
In Gidderbaha (Sri Muktsar Sahib), Congress leader Amarinder Singh Raja Warring secured the Ludhiana Lok Sabha seat.
In Chabbewal (Hoshiarpur), Dr. Rajkumar Chabbewal was elected to Parliament, representing AAP.
In Dera Baba Nanak (Gurdaspur), former Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa of Congress became an MP.