Over 70 per cent voters cast ballots in Valtoha

Chandigarh, Feb 24 (UNI) More than 70 per cent of the over 1,18,000 voters cast their ballots today as polling passed off peacefully in the Valtoha Assembly constituency in Punjab.

Polling was postponed in the constituency due to the death of CPI candidate, Kulwinder Singh, who had died in a road accident before the February 13 assembly polls. His wife Kiran Bir Kaur has now been given the party ticket.

The state had witnessed a record voter turnout of over 76 per cent on February 13, despite rains when polling was held for 115 assembly constituencies out of a total of 117.

In Valtoha, polling began on dull to moderate note at 0800 hrs, but picked up as the day progressed at all the booths in the constituency, according to Election Commission sources.

No untoward incident was reported from anywhere, they said.

The polling will decide the electoral fortune of five candidates, Mr Gurchet Singh (INC), Mr Virsa Singh (SAD), Mr Swaran Singh (BSP), Ms Kiran Bir Kaur (CPI) and Mr Harchand Singh (Independent) who have locked horns in the fray.

The Punjab Government had declared the day a public holiday in the constituency to enable voters to cast their ballots. All government, corporation and boards offices and educational institutions in the constituency are closed due to the polling.

Counting of votes will be taken up alongwith those of other constituencies on February 27.

The polling was also postponed to March 11 by the EC in Beas constituency in the wake of violence that claimed the life of a SAD worker.

UNI