Punjab polls: Voting generally peaceful, turnout 65 per cent

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An estimated 65 per cent of 1.67 crore voters on Monday exercised their franchise in the Punjab assembly election which passed off peacefully barring minor skirmishes in some districts.

"The polling percentage touched an approximately 65 per cent according to preliminary reports," Punjab's Special Chief Electoral Officer Usha R Sharma said.

The voting to elect the 117-member House was generally peaceful across the state barring minor skirmishes between supporters of rival candidates in some districts.

The fate of 1,078 candidates, including two Chief Ministerial aspirants Parkash Singh Badal and Amarinder Singh, were sealed in the Electronic Voting Machines.

Badal is seeking a fifth-term from his traditional Lambi Assembly constituency and his predecessor Amarinder Singh from Patiala city.

Other notable candidates whose fate was sealed in EVMs were Sukhbir Singh Badal (Jalalabad), Raninder Singh, son of Amardiner Singh, (Samana), former CM Rajinder Kaur Bhattal (Lehra), ex-top cop P S Gill (Moga) and former SGPC chief Bibi Jagir Kaur (Bholath).