Modi magic fails in city, Grewal comes third

Ludhiana: The Modi wave that swept the country had no effect on the industrial hub, where SAD-BJP candidate Maheshinder Singh Grewal had to settle at third position with 2.99 lakh votes.
In urban areas, Modi wave helped the Akali Dal candidate as the margin was smaller among Grewal, Congress candidate Ravneet Bittu and Punjab Democratic Alliance candidate Simarjit Singh Bains. Akali Dal, however, failed to cash in on its traditional vote bank in the rural segments of Dakha, Gill and Jagraon.
Party insiders said sacrilege incidents in Bargari and Behbal Kalan were still fresh in the minds of voters in rural areas. “Besides, Grewal was not a popular face,” they added. While he secured second largest vote share from East, South, Central, West and North segments, he was at spot three in Atam Nagar, Gill, Dakha and Jagraon. As compared to Grewal, PDA candidate and Lok Insaaf Party chief Simarjit Singh Bains performed well in Gill and Dakha, where he even left behind Congress’s Ravneet Bittu.
A BJP leader said, “Our party helped the Akali Dal candidate and it is because of the Modi factor that Grewal got votes in urban areas. The BJP has improved tally in urban seats, while the Akali Dal could not convince the voters in rural segments. The workers were not happy with the choice of candidate who was less popular.”
SAD district president Ranjit Dhillon said, “The rural areas spoiled the game. Had we got votes there, the picture would have been different. We did not receive votes in our traditional vote bank.”
Grewal said, “I accept the verdict of the people of Ludhiana and wish the winner all the best.” On factors that went against him, he said, “Votes that had gone to AAP candidate HS Phoolka in 2014 elections did not come to the Akali Dal. They instead went to Simarjit Singh Bains. This hit our vote share in rural constituencies. And in urban areas, our position was better due to the Modi wave.”
Poor show in home ward
Grewal could not win from his home ward falling in Atam Nagar constituency. From ward 48, he got 1,836 votes and Bittu 2,199. This is the only ward in Atam Nagar constituency where Bittu got more votes than Bains (1,458).
BJP cancels celebrations
Ludhiana district BJP vice-president Rajnish Dhiman said due to Grewal’s defeat they have decided not to celebrate on Thursday. “The party workers, however, are celebrating at their level. We will celebrate the day Narendra Modi takes oath as PM again,” he added.