‘I urge my young friends to vote' PM Modi says as assembly polls kick-off

251 candidates are in the fray for the 40-member Goa assembly, while 1,145 candidates are in fray to for the 117-member assembly.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday urged the electorate, especially the youth, to come out and vote in large number in the ongoing polls in Punjab and Goa.

Urging people of Punjab & Goa to turnout in record numbers & vote in the Assembly elections. I particularly urge my young friends to vote.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 4, 2017

According to reports, 27 per cent of voters in Punjab and 23 per cent voters in Goa are in the age group of 18-30 years.

Polling for 40 seats of the Goa assembly and 117 seats of Punjab began at 8 am amid tight security arrangements on Saturday.

In Goa, 251 candidates are in the fray for the 40-member assembly, while in Punjab 1,145 candidates are in fray for the 117-member assembly.

The Bharatiya Janata Party is contesting 36 seats and supporting four independents in Goa, while the Congress is contesting polls in the coastal state in 38 seats. The Aam Aadmi Party has fielded its candidates in 39 seats, while the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party-Goa Suraksha Manch-Shiv Sena alliance is contesting 28 of the state's 40 seats.

In Punjab, the BJP is contesting in 23 seats while its ally, the Shiromani Akali Dal, is contesting in 94 seats. The Congress is contesting in all the 117 seats on its own, while the AAP has fielded its candidates in 112 seats.

OneIndia News