The Punjab State Election Commission has designated Indian cricketer Shubman Gill as the "state icon" for upcoming Lok Sabha elections, as confirmed by state's Chief Electoral Officer's office, PTI reported. Gill, a native of Punjab, holds immense popularity among cricket enthusiasts, particularly the youth. The 24-year-old is expected to play a significant role in motivating people, especially the youth, to achieve the target of over 70 percent voter turnout during the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections in 2024.
On Monday, Chief Electoral Officer Sibin C, in a statement, announced that various campaigns would be organized through Shubman Gill to promote voter awareness and participation. Prior to Shubman, renowned Punjabi singer Tarsem Jassad was also appointed as the state icon to raise awareness about voting in Punjab during the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
The Chief Electoral Officer expressed optimism that first-time voters will be inspired by Shubman Gill and Tarsem Jassad to exercise their right to vote. He also appealed to people of other age groups to increase their participation in the voting process, emphasizing the importance of every citizen's contribution to the democratic process.
In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Punjab recorded a 65.96% oter turnout across its 13 seats, reflecting the active participation of its electorates. The Lok Sabha 2024 polls are expected to be conducted in April-May.
Shubman Gill misses reaching century in IND vs ENG Rajkot Test
On day 4 of IND vs ENG Rajkot Test, Shubman Gill seemed poised to reach a century, but an unfortunate mix-up between him and Kuldeep resulted in the star batter being run out for 91.
If Gill had managed to score a century, it would have marked his second century in the ongoing IND vs ENG Test series. This was the second occasion Gill being dismissed for 91, echoing his unfortunate run-out during IND vs AUS Gabba Test in 2021.
India attained a record win over England in the Rajkot Test to go 2-1 up in the ongoing Test series. The fourth Test between India and England will take place in Ranchi, scheduled to begin from February 23 (Friday) onwards.