70% Turnout as Polling Ends in Punjab, First-Time Voters Want Jobs
Punjab is locked in a three-way fight between SAD-BJP, the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party.
- Voting in Punjab took place till 5 pm on Saturday
- Total of 22,614 polling stations were set up in Punjab with 31,460 EVMs
- Over 1,00,000 security personnel deployed in Punjab for polls
- First time voters want employment, regardless of who comes to power
Voting delayed in Majitha, Jalandhar over EVM malfunction - Overall polling percentage in state at 70% till 4 pm
- Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal calls Amarinder Singh “only drama”
- Bikers opened fire at a booth in Ferozepur, no casualties were reported
Punjab polling ended on Saturday with 66 per cent turnout till 4 pm. All the big-wigs from parties came to state who they thought would win. Things got ugly as accusations were hurled at politicians by other politicians, calling them “defectors”, “ISI funded”, “drama-queens”. Bikers opened fire at a Ferozepur polling booth but no casualties were reported.
What first time voters want from this election is not a party that comes to power and puts the party first but puts Punjab first and generates employment.
Polling started an hour late in Punjab on Saturday due to bad weather conditions.
Open Fire Near Polling Booth
Bike borne men opened fire near a polling booth in Ferozepur district's Guru Har Sahai area. No injuries have been reported so far.
Punjab has recorded an overall voter turnout of 66% till 4 pm.
Amarinder Singh Casts Vote
Congress’ Chief Ministerial candidate Captain Amarinder Singh cast his vote at booth no. 89 in Patiala.
Punjab has recorded an overall voter turnout of 36.05% till 1 pm.
"Positive Response From People About Parents"
Navjot Singh Sidhu’s son Karan Singh has spoken in support of his father, saying there has been a very positive response to him.
"BJP Getting Wiped Out"
RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav commented on the Punjab polls, saying that BJP is getting wiped out from everywhere from the signs that are coming.
Hans Raj Hans Certain of BJP-Akali Win
BJP's Hans Raj Hans exercised his right to vote at a polling booth in Jalandhar.
EVM's Not Working, Delay in Polling
Polling at certain booths was delayed at the EVM machines were not working in Majitha, and earlier in the day in Jalandhar.
Navjot Singh Sidhu Arrives to Cast Vote
Navjot Singh Sidhu who recently joined Congress has arrived to cast his vote in Amritsar along with his wife Navjot Kaur, calling the revival of Congress “a great gift for Rahul Gandhi”.
He also said he’s sure of Congress’ victory saying their flag will be planted in the state next.
"ISI Sponsors Kejriwal"
Harsimrat Kaur Badal expressed her distaste for Aam Admi Party and Arvind Kejriwal saying that he’s dining with the devils.
She said the state needs a government to coordinate with the centre not have issues with it.
Voter Turnout 14% Till 11.30am
Punjab has recorded an overall voter turnout of 14% till 11.30 am.
Harbhajan Singh, Mother Arrive to Cast Vote
Cricketer Harbhajan Singh along with his mother Avtar Kaur are waiting to cast their votes at polling booth no. 23 in Jalandhar.
He commented on the vote division now that three parties are contesting elections but said that whoever wins should keep Punjab before themselves.
Parkash Singh Badal Casts Vote
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal casts his vote in Lambi and calls Bhagwant Mann, Amarinder Singh known defectors.
"Will Have Bigger Win Than Last Year"
Punjab’s Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal is confident of their party Shiromani Akali Dal coming back to power in the state.
12 Percent Polling Recorded
Around 12 per cent of the total 1.98 crore electors have exercised their franchise till 10.30 am to seal the fate of 1,145 candidates in the high-stakes Punjab Assembly elections.
"12 per cent polling has taken place till 10.30 am," an election office spokesman said here, adding that the polling was peaceful.
Bhagwant Mann Casts Vote
Aam Admi Party’s Bhagwant Mann cast his vote in Mohali. He is speculated to be the Chief Ministerial candidate for the party.
Youth Wants Employment
A first-time voter from Lamni, Punjab has said that regardless of who comes into power, the youth wants employment.
"JJ Singh a Parachute Candidate"
Capt Amarinder Singh’s niece Raminder Kaur called Gen JJ Singh a parachute candidate who “doesn’t belong in Patiala”.
"Voting a Right to be Exercised"
Aam Admi Party’s state convener in Punjab Gurpreet Ghuggi cast his vote, saying that voting is a right which must be exercised.
'Confident of Win'
Congress CM candidate Capt Amarinder Singh’s wife Preneet Kaur said that the environment in Punjab is charged and positive, and the party is confident of winning.
Congress' Parget Singh Casts Vote
Congress’ Pargat Singh cast his vote in Jalandhar and commented on other parties’ performance saying that AAP is likely to win some seats but Akali Dal will be wiped out.
Kejriwal Tweets in Punjabi, Urges Voters to Pick 'Honest' Party
Delhi Chief Minister, in a (last) bid to woo the voters in Punjab, tweeted in Gurmukhi. He urged voters to choose “an honest party”.
SAD Candidate JJ Singh Casts Vote
Former Army Chief JJ Singh is among the early voters in Punjab. Singh, who is the SAD candidate against the Congress' Captain Amarinder Singh from Patiala Urban, cast his vote in Lambi.
Candidates Seek Blessings at Amritsar's Golden Temple Ahead of Polling
Voting for 117-Member Punjab Assembly: All You Need to Know
Polling will be held today to elect the 117-member Punjab Assembly in a three-cornered contest with Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP alliance, which is battling anti-incumbency after a 10-year rule, locked in a tough contest with the Congress and new entrant Aam Aadmi Party.
Of the total voters, six lakh are first-time voters. Voting will take place from 8 am to 5 pm. A total of 22,615 polling stations have been set up with 31,460 electronic voting machines (EVMs).
Punjab Assembly Polls: Know Your Candidates
1.98 crore people will be eligible to vote in the high stake election, the first after PM Modi’s demonetisation move. 1,145 candidates, including 81 women and a transgender, are battling for the 117 assembly seats.
Here are all the big names, moneybags and criminals involved.
Over 1,00,000 Security Personnel Deployed for Punjab Polls
Over one lakh security personnel, including central paramilitary forces, will be on high alert in the state which saw a car blast barely two days before the campaign was to end in which six people were killed. Punjab Police did not rule out the incident as an act of terror.
Punjab Chief Electoral Officer VK Singh told the media here on Friday that over 2.07 lakh state government employees would also be deployed to conduct the "mahayagya of democracy".
How Punjab Voted in 2012
(With inputs from IANS, PTI)
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