New Delhi: Voters in Punjab are queuing up at polling booths on Sunday to exercise their franchise. The single-phase Punjab election has seen a multi-cornered contest with Congress, AAP, SAD-BSP alliance, BJP-PLC-SAD (Sanyukt) alliance, and Sanyukt Samaj Morcha fighting it out to woo voters in the state.


The polling had started at 8 am and will continue till 6 pm. Till 3 PM, Punjab reported a voter turnout of nearly 50% (49.81%).

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Several prominent leaders in Punjab were captured as they arrived at polling booths to cast their votes. The popular names include incumbent Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, former CM Capt Amarinder Singh, Congress President Navjot Singh Sidhu, AAP CM candidate Bhagwant Mann, Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal, and more.


Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi cast his vote at a polling booth in Kharar. The Congress leader is contesting the polls from Chamkaur Sahib and Bhadaur constituencies. He expressed confidence in the ruling party's performance saying: "The Congress party will form government with 2/3rd majority in Punjab", news agency ANI reported.


Congress President Navjot Singh Sidhu hit out at the opposition saying: "On one side is the mafia system of Badal family and Capt Amarinder Singh. On the other side are those who love Punjab. We lost one generation to terrorism, the second to drugs, so, today we've to vote carefully. People will vote in large numbers to bring change".


Aam Aadmi Party's CM candidate Bhagwant Mann, who exercised his franchise in Mohali, appealed to the voters: "Bhagat Singh and many other people sacrificed their lives for the country. I appeal to the public to vote for the candidate they want". "Today, the people of Punjab are voting for truth. We will get a majority in this election," he said.


Former deputy CM and Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal along with Parkash Singh Badal and Harsimrat Kaur cast his vote in Muktsar.  He too was confident in the prospects for the SAD-BSP alliance, as he said: "There is a strong SAD-BSP wave in the state, you'll see exceptional results soon".


According to the Jalalabad candidate, "Shiromani Akali Dal-BSP is going to make a clean sweep. We will get 80 plus seats".


Shiromani Akali Dal patron Parkash Singh Badal also expressed confidence as said, "We have been standing firm at one place for the last three generations. While many others have moved to other parties on not getting election tickets, like Capt Amarinder Singh". The 94-year-old veteran politician is contesting from his traditional Lambi constituency.


Former Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh said that he is "certain" of winning in his traditional Patiala seat. "I think we will win the elections...They (Congress) live in a different world and will be wiped out in Punjab," the Punjab Lok Congress founder said.


He further hit out at Congress and CM Channi saying: "What is Charanjit Channi? Is he a magician that in 3 months he can perform miracles in Punjab?  Giving all the credit to try to make him a hero before the elections.... I think both (Channi and Navjot S Sidhu) are useless".


"They (Congress) are concerned about what I am able to achieve in Punjab which is going against them. I can predict that Congress will not get more than 20-30 seats," the former Congress leader claimed.


Meanwhile, former state minister and Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia, who is believed to be giving a tough fight to Navjot Sidhu in Amritsar East, said: "People will win, their issues will win and public will reject Sidhu's arrogance and hate politics. There has not been any development of industries and issues of business, unemployed and poor labours have not been addressed".


Meanwhile, Harsimrat Kaur Badal also said there's going to be a "clean sweep" in favour of Akali Dai: "Today people want a stable, strong government. As a border state, it has many challenges. I'm sure there's going to be clean sweep in favour of a tried and tested local, regional party that understand the aspirations of the local people".






Other names who have cast their votes today include Punjab Deputy CM Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa; Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal; Education, Sports & NRI Affairs Minister Pargat Singh; Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu; Congress leaders Manish Tewari, Sunil Jhakhar, and more.


Tight security arrangements have been made for the peaceful conduct of the polls. A total of 700 companies of the central armed police force besides the state police personnel have been deployed.

A total of 1,304 candidates, including 93 women and two transgenders, are in the fray for the high-stake electoral contest.


(With Agency Inputs)