Punjab and Uttarakhand on Monday witnessed by and large peaceful polling as a heavy turnout of 77 per cent and 70 per cent voting respectively was reported from the two states. This is a marked increase in voting percentage compared to the last polls in the two states. The polling percentage in Punjab in the last Assembly elections in 2007 was 75.36 per cent, while in the Lok Sabha polls the figure was 70.04 per cent. In Uttarakhand, it was 63.96 per cent in the 2007 Assembly polls and only 53.96 per cent in the 2009 parliamentary elections.
Besides a few skirmishes in some parts of both states, the polling went off smoothly. A bright and sunny day helped secure a high turnout. Though polling was a bit slow in the early part of the day, it picked up as the day progressed.
In Punjab, the highest voting percentage of 85 per cent was recorded in Gidderbaha constituency, from where Punjab People’s Party chief Manpreet Singh Badal is seeking election. Lambi, where chief minister Parkash Singh Badal is contesting, recorded a 84 per cent turnout.
Casting of votes started across 19,841 polling stations at 8 am. No voter was being allowed to enter polling booths without an election identity card and a voter slip, officials said. “The EC received some complaints from various districts, and action was taken,” they added.
Over 73,000 security personnel, including over 2,000 paramilitary troopers, were deployed.
Mr Parkash Singh Badal, 84, facing his toughest political test locked in a bitter triangular contest with his younger brothers for the Lambi seat, exuded confidence over his party’s prospects. State Congress chief and CM aspirant Amarinder Singh, who voted in Patiala, said his party would win over 75 seats in the 117-member Assembly. “We’re winning hands down... The people of Punjab want to oust the Akalis,” he said. Capt. Singh is seeking re-election from Patiala Urban.
In Uttarakhand, 866 candidates are in the fray for the 70-member Assembly. Chief minister B.C. Khanduri, who is standing from Kotdwar, said: “There’s a very good response... It’s a very positive signal, and we feel we’ll form the government easily... but it’s for the people to decide.”