• By Ankit Kumar
  • Tue, 04 Jun 2024 12:54 PM (IST)
  • Source:JND

The counting of votes for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections has begun, and the results are starting to emerge. According to the latest trends shown by the Election Commission of India, jailed Khalistani separatist and Waris Punjab De Chief Amritpal Singh is leading by over 90,000 votes from Punjab's Khadoor Sahib seat. Amritpal Singh is contesting as an independent candidate, and Congress leader Kulbir Singh Zira is trailing behind. Amritpal Singh, who is currently in Assam's Dibrugarh jail, was arrested by the Punjab Police in April last year after evading police for over a month. The stringent National Security Act was invoked against him. 

This is a significant development in the Lok Sabha elections, as Amritpal Singh has garnered a significant following among Punjab's youth and the Sikh community with his speeches centred around Punjab's youth and the Sikh religion. He has also publicly supported the demand for Khalistan, an independent state for Sikhs.

The Khadoor Sahib seat was previously won by the Congress' Jasbir Singh Gill in 2019. This year, the Congress has nominated Kulbir Singh Zira for the seat, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has put forward Manjit Singh Mianwind. Representing the AAP is Laljit Singh Bhullar, and the Akali Dal's candidate is Virsa Singh Valtoha.

The 2024 Lok Sabha elections were held across seven phases, with polling taking place from April 19 to June 1. The counting of votes will continue throughout the day, and the results are expected to be declared by the evening. The Lok Sabha has 543 seats, and a party or coalition needs 272 seats to form the government. The Bharatiya Janata Party is eyeing a third straight term in power, while the Opposition under the umbrella of the INDIA bloc is seeking to wrest power from the ruling party.