Punjab records all time high of 68 per cent polling

By Staff
|
Google Oneindia News

Chandigarh, Feb 13 (UNI) An all-time high of 68 per cent voting was recorded today in the assembly elections in Punjab which passed off peacefully, barring stray incidents.

Along with voting in 115 of the 117 assembly constituencies, polling was held in the Amritsar Lok Sabha constituency where cricketer-turned politician Navjot Singh Sidhu of the BJP was locked in a virtual straight contest with Punjab Finance Minister Surinder Singla of the Congress.

According to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) here, the final figure was expected to touch 70 per cent as details continued to pour in from remote polling booths.

The turnout broke the previous record of 65.14 per cent in the 2002 assembly polls.

Under unprecedented security arrangements, the polling passed off peacefully except for a few minor incidents.

In some booths, where the process was held up due to EVM snags, power failure or some other reasons, the polling schedule was extended accordingly.

The polling was higher in the Malwa belt which has 63 assembly seats as compared to the Majha and Doaba areas, he said.

Voting began on a dull note at 0800 hrs this morning amid showers and an unprecedented security cover. It however, picked up as the day progressed. There was more enthusiasm among the rural voters, including women. Long queues could be seen of people wrapped in blankets, with colourful raincoats or umbrellas, outside the 16,757 polling stations to choose from amongst 1038 candidates, including 49 women.

Polling percentage crossed 70 per cent in districts of Barnala, Mansa, Moga, Muktsar, Sangrur, Bathinda, Gurdaspur, Firozpur and Faridkot followed by Kapurthala, Taran Tarn, Jalandhar, Patiala, Ropar and other district where it was between 60 to 65 per cent.

However, Amritsar recorded the lowest voter turnout at a little over 55 per cent.

Eds: Pick up sutably from earlier series.

UNI

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