Over 2.14 crore voters are set to decide the fate of 1,304 candidates contested for Punjab assembly seats today. The voting for the single-phase poll in Punjab started at 8am and ended at 6pm.
Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have emerged as the main rivals in the multi-cornered contest while Captain Amarinder Singh, who quit Congress last year and formed his own party, is fighting for his relevance in Punjab politics.
Overall voter turnout in Punjab was recorded at 70.2% in Punjab.Counting of votes will be held on March 10.
A clash broke out between workers of BJP and AAP at a border village Jalloo Kee of Ferozepur (urban) constituency in Punjab. One AAP worker Surjit Singh sustained minor injuries.
Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi casted his vote at a polling booth in Kharar. He is contesting from Chamkaur Sahib and Bhadaur constituencies on a Congress ticket. “The Congress party will form government with 2/3rd majority in Punjab,” he told ANI.
Captain Amarinder Singh said he was certain of winning from the Patiala assembly constituency, claiming that Congress will be wiped out from Punjab in the assembly elections. “They (Congress) live in a different world & will be wiped out in Punjab,” said the Punjab Lok Congress founder after casting his vote in Patiala.
Polling was delayed in at least four booths in the Moga district due to EVM glitches. Officials informed that voting was delayed at booth number 198 of Baghapurana constituency, number 13 of Nihal Singh Wala constituency and booth number 160 and 161 of Moga constituency.
The poll campaign witnessed a last-minute controversy as former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Kumar Vishwas accused Kejriwal of taking support from separatist elements to win the election.