A total of 1,304 candidates, including 93 women and two transgenders, are in the fray in this high-level election.
A total of 1,304 candidates, including 93 women and two transgenders, are in the fray in this high-level election.
Voting in 117 assembly seats In Punjab Sunday morning began amid tight security arrangements.
Voting started at 8 am and will continue till 6 pm
A total of 1,304 candidates, including 93 women and two transgenders, are in the fray in this high-level election.
There are 2,14,99,804 voters out of which 1,02,00,996 are women.
Punjab Chief Electoral Officer S. Karuna Raju said there are 24,740 polling stations, of which 2,013 are identified as critical, while 2,952 are sensitive.
Punjab is witnessing a multi-cornered contest between the Congress, AAP, SAD-BSP, BJP-PLC-SAD (United) and the Samyukta Samaj Morcha, the political front of various farmers’ organisations.
Shiromani Akali Dal is contesting the elections in alliance with Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).
The BJP is contesting the elections in alliance with Amarinder Singh-led Punjab Lok Congress and Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa-led SAD (United).
SSM Haryana is contesting the elections with the Samyukta Sangharsh Party led by Bharatiya Kisan Union (Chaduni) leader Gurnam Singh Chaduni.
Prominent faces include Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, Aam Aadmi Party chief ministerial face Bhagwant Mann, Punjab Congress President Navjot Singh Sidhu, former CMs Amarinder Singh and Parkash Singh Badal and Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal.
Former Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, Punjab BJP President Ashwini Sharma and former Union Minister Vijay Sampla are also in the fray.
A total of 700 companies of the Central Armed Police Force have been deployed in addition to the state police personnel.
There are 196 pink polling stations for women while 70 polling stations will be managed by Persons with Disabilities (PWD).
In view of COVID-19, arrangements have been made for masks, gloves and sanitizers at the polling stations as well as arrangements have been made for disposal of COVID-19 waste material.
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