Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07NEWDELHI753
2007-02-14 13:08:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy New Delhi
Cable title:
PUNJAB OUTCOME TOO CLOSE TO CALL
how-toVZCZCXRO7564 OO RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHLH RUEHPW DE RUEHNE #0753 0451308 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 141308Z FEB 07 FM AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3023 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 5295 RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 8799 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 8878 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 2054 RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 9509 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 1346 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 4445 RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA 8582 RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI 8864 RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI 6799 RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE 3582 RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 8036 RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR 4177 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEIDN/DNI WASHINGTON DC RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 3741 RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 6084 RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI RHMFISS/HQ USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
UNCLAS NEW DELHI 000753
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/INS, DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL PINR IN
SUBJECT: PUNJAB OUTCOME TOO CLOSE TO CALL
REF: NEW DELHI 661
INCLEMENT WEATHER DOES NOT HINDER VOTING
----------------
UNCLAS NEW DELHI 000753
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/INS, DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL PINR IN
SUBJECT: PUNJAB OUTCOME TOO CLOSE TO CALL
REF: NEW DELHI 661
INCLEMENT WEATHER DOES NOT HINDER VOTING
--------------
1. (U) On February 13, despite heavy rains an estimated 65-70
percent of Punjab's 10 million member electorate voted in the
state's hotly-contested Legislative Assembly election. The
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)/BJP coalition and the Congress are
vying for political leadership in the state (reftel).
Although alcohol consumption is prohibited 48 hours before
elections, both parties distributing liquor liberally to
villages on the night before the election in a last ditch
effort to buy votes. Despite a few minor skirmishes in the
morning, election day passed with no significant violence.
While urban turnout was light, hurting Congress, rural voters
voted enthusiastically in large numbers, often waiting in
line for 4-5 hours in pouring rain, benefiting the Akalis.
EXIT POLLS UNRELIABLE
--------------
2. (U) Although most exit polls indicated a slim Akali/BJP
win, a joint poll conducted by CNN/IBN and the Hindustan
Times predicted a tie. However, in such a tight race, exit
polling cannot provide a reliable indicator of the outcome.
This is the first year that Punjab used electronic voting
machines throughout the state. The Punjab Election
Commission will release the results on February 27. Though
there are 117 seats, only 115 districts voted on February 13.
The Election Commission delayed elections in two districts
due to violence and concerns that law and order could not be
maintained. Should the election prove as close as many
pundits predict, the final outcome may not be determined
until the votes are tallied in these two districts.
NO CLEAR MANDATE
--------------
3. (U) This election is the most competitive ever held in
Punjab. We expect both parties to claim victory until the
final results are announced. Chief Minister Amarinder Singh
has declared that the high voter turnout is indicative of a
Congress victory. SAD leader Parkash Singh Badal claimed the
same high turnout was a reflection of people's anger against
the current government. While the exit polls are not a
reliable indicator of who will win, they confirm that the
margin of victory will be small. Such a close and
competitive race is consistent with our assessment that
Punjab's voters are not pleased with Akali or Congress.
MULFORD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/INS, DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL PINR IN
SUBJECT: PUNJAB OUTCOME TOO CLOSE TO CALL
REF: NEW DELHI 661
INCLEMENT WEATHER DOES NOT HINDER VOTING
--------------
1. (U) On February 13, despite heavy rains an estimated 65-70
percent of Punjab's 10 million member electorate voted in the
state's hotly-contested Legislative Assembly election. The
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)/BJP coalition and the Congress are
vying for political leadership in the state (reftel).
Although alcohol consumption is prohibited 48 hours before
elections, both parties distributing liquor liberally to
villages on the night before the election in a last ditch
effort to buy votes. Despite a few minor skirmishes in the
morning, election day passed with no significant violence.
While urban turnout was light, hurting Congress, rural voters
voted enthusiastically in large numbers, often waiting in
line for 4-5 hours in pouring rain, benefiting the Akalis.
EXIT POLLS UNRELIABLE
--------------
2. (U) Although most exit polls indicated a slim Akali/BJP
win, a joint poll conducted by CNN/IBN and the Hindustan
Times predicted a tie. However, in such a tight race, exit
polling cannot provide a reliable indicator of the outcome.
This is the first year that Punjab used electronic voting
machines throughout the state. The Punjab Election
Commission will release the results on February 27. Though
there are 117 seats, only 115 districts voted on February 13.
The Election Commission delayed elections in two districts
due to violence and concerns that law and order could not be
maintained. Should the election prove as close as many
pundits predict, the final outcome may not be determined
until the votes are tallied in these two districts.
NO CLEAR MANDATE
--------------
3. (U) This election is the most competitive ever held in
Punjab. We expect both parties to claim victory until the
final results are announced. Chief Minister Amarinder Singh
has declared that the high voter turnout is indicative of a
Congress victory. SAD leader Parkash Singh Badal claimed the
same high turnout was a reflection of people's anger against
the current government. While the exit polls are not a
reliable indicator of who will win, they confirm that the
margin of victory will be small. Such a close and
competitive race is consistent with our assessment that
Punjab's voters are not pleased with Akali or Congress.
MULFORD