Punjab assembly elections: Rural voters’ hopes behind AAP victory in Mohali
AAP’s promises of jobs, better education and health services, end to the drug menace and agricultural reforms seem to have resonated with the rural electors across Mohali, as their votes form the major chunk of the three winners’ vote share
AAP’s promises of jobs, better education and health services, end to the drug menace and agricultural reforms seem to have resonated with the rural electors across Mohali, as their votes form the major chunk of the three winners’ vote share. There are 82 villages in Mohali urban, 164 in Kharar, and 154 in Dera Bassi.
Real estate baron Kulwant Singh, who won from Mohali, received 39,730 (51%) of the 76,915 votes polled to him from villages, while Balbir Singh Sidhu of Congress, who stood second, got 22,812 (53%) of his 42,929 votes from rural areas.
In Kharar, winner Anmol Gagan Mann got 47,805 votes (61%) of her 78,067 votes from villages; while runner-up, SAD’s Ranjit Singh Gill, got 27,685 votes (68%) of his 40,349 votes from villages.
In Dera Bassi, AAP’s Kuljeet Singh Randhawa got 41,010 votes (59%) of his 69,870 votes from rural areas, while Congress’ Deepinder Singh Dhillon, who came second, got 29,907 votes (62%) out of total 48,260 votes from villages.
Kulwant Singh said that from day one, they had been getting humongous support from villages and this ensured their victory. Congress completely neglected the villages in the past five years, he said.
It may be recalled that on February 20, when voting was held, voters from villages and colonies under Mohali urban segment left behind those from sectors and phases by 16%.
In Mohali, 73.61% of voting was witnessed in rural areas, 70.63% in Kharar and 67% in Dera Bassi.
During campaigning multiple campaigners had highlighted the poor condition of villages in the district. This included poor sanitation, lack of availability of drinking water and no proper roads.