Not Much Interest From NRIs Voters In Punjab Elections As Only 275 Registered To Vote So Far

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JALANDHAR – The Punjabi diaspora has shown little interest to vote in the Assembly elections. As per the Punjab Election Commission, only 275 NRIs registered as voters as on Monday.

“The reason for low registration is non-availability of postal ballot for NRIs, as provided to armed forces and other central government employees working in consulates and embassies abroad,” said VK Singh, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO).

He further said, “The NRIs seem more interested in politics of the country they are living in than in Punjab politics. They do not want to return home just to cast their ballot.”

In the 2012 elections, around 90 NRIs registered as voters while, in 2007, the number was almost nil.

Satnam Chahal, chairman of US-based North American Punjabi Association (NAPA), said low turnout of NRI voters was because of state government’s failure to fulfill its promises made to them.

“The government had promised NRI fast-track courts in each district. Only three courts have been established in Jalandhar alone. It also failed to open NRI cells as promised by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal at a Sangat Darshan programme two years ago,” he said, adding that the Punjabi diaspora was upset over desecration of the Guru Granth Sahib.