New Delhi: The counting of votes for the 117 seats in Punjab assembly elections 2017 began at 8am. The first election trends and results are expected within an hour.
The Election Commission (EC) has set up 54 counting centres in 27 locations in Punjab. The EC has issued strict guidelines on security arrangements for counting of votes and has prohibited mobile phones inside the counting halls. A three-tier security perimeter has been created at the counting centres.
Track Punjab election results here
Exit poll results on Thursday forecast a close fight in Punjab between the Congress, which is seeking to return to power after a hiatus of 10 years, and Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP combine could be in for a drubbing in the state.
Here are the latest updates on Punjab election results:
1.29 pm: “We accept people’s mandate. All volunteers worked hard. We accept people’s mandate. All volunteers worked hard. Our struggle will continue,” AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal on the Punjab election results.
1.18 pm: Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal says he will resign on Sunday, even as he congratulated Amarinder Singh for Congress’s victory in Punjab elections. “SAD will discuss reasons for defeat in the Punjab assembly elections,” he added.
12.32 pm: Punjab Congress president Captain Amarinder Singh thanked people of the state for their overwhelming support. “Arvind Kejriwal is like a summer storm which came and has gone,” said Singh. “We hope Union Government will recognise demands of Punjab and assist us.” Thanking Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, Singh said: “The Congress legislature party will meet tomorrow.”
12.19 pm: Navjot Singh Sindhu on Congress’s performance in Punjab: “Punjab results a defeat of Akali Dal’s arrogance... This is the revival of Congress. It will take strength from this beginning in Punjab and spread.”
12.10pm: Congress candidate Kanwarpal Singh wins Anandpur Sahib seat by defeating his nearest BJP rival Parminder Sharma with a margin of 23,881 votes. The seat was earlier held by cabinet minister Madan Mohan Mittal of BJP.
11.37 am: Latest updates show the Congress is leading on 73 seats and has won from one constituency. The BJP-SAD combine is trailing with 19 seats; AAP is ahead on 22 seats.
11.30am: Congress surging ahead in 72 seats in Punjab, followed by the SAD-BJP in 20 seats and AAP in 23 seats, as per election commission data.
In terms of the party vote share registered so far, Congress remains in the lead at 38.2%, while the SAD has a vote share of 24.7% compared to the AAP at 27.0%.
11.18 am: Congress surging ahead in 69 seats in Punjab, followed by the SAD-BJP in 19 seats and AAP in 24 seats, as per election commission data. Congress’s Gurjit Singh Aujla leading by 21,881 votes in Amritsar Lok Sabha constituency.
10.35 am: Congress’s Navjot Singh Sidhu is leading from Amritsar (East) with 12,300 votes ahead of BJP’s Rajesh Kumar Honey (3,370 votes).
10.25 am: Congress surging ahead in 63 seats in Punjab, followed by the SAD-BJP in 28 seats and AAP in 22 seats, as per election commission data.
In terms of the party vote share registered so far, Congress remains in the lead at 37.5%, while the SAD has a vote share of 24.9% compared to the AAP at 24.0%.
10.12 am: Congress surging ahead in 50 seats in Punjab, followed by the SAD-BJP in 28 seats and AAP in 22 seats, as per election commission data.
9.45am: Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal leading over nearest rival Ravneet Singh Bittu of Congress by a margin of 2144 votes from Jalalabad.
9.30 am: Congress is leading on 13 seats in the 117-member Punjab assembly, followed by ruling SAD and AAP on 4 seats each, as per early trends. Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal is leading from his pocket borough Lambi assembly constituency. Badal is leading over his nearest Congress rival Captain Amarinder Singh as per early trends available.
Amarinder Singh, who is also fighting from his traditional stronghold Patiala, was leading in that seat. Congress is also ahead in Amritsar Central, Tarn Taran, Khadoor Sahib, Jalandhar West (Reserve), Chabbewal (Reserve), Anandpur Sahib, Fatehgarh Sahib, Dharamkot, Baluana (Reserve), Gidderbaha, Faridkot, Rajpura and Patiala seats while Shiromani Akali Dal was ahead in Lambi, Bhagapurana, Moga and Majitha seats, as per early trends. BJP is ahead in Abohar segment.
AAP was ahead in Bathinda Urban, Mansa, Bhadaur (Reserve) and Mehal Kalan (Reserve) seats. From Gidderbaha, All-India Youth Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring was leading. From Majitha seat, SAD’s Bikram Singh Majithia was leading. Congress’ Manpreet Badal was trailing AAP candidate Deepak Bansal from Bathinda Urban as per initial trends
9.14 am: Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal is ahead of Punjab Congress chief Captain Amarinder Singh by a margin of 1,245 votes in Lambi seat. In Bhadaur (reserve) assembly segment, the AAP’s Pirmal Singh Tohra has taken an early lead. All-India Youth Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring is off to a good start in Gidderbaha. Punjab cabinet minister Bikram Singh Majithia is ahead in Majitha seat by a margin of 1,126 votes over his nearest Congress rival. In Hargobindpur seat, Balwinder Singh Laddi of Congress has taken the lead, while AAP’s Kulwant Singh is ahead in Mehal Kalan seat.
9.00 am: Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal is leading in Lambi seat, according to early trends. The 89-year-old is locked in a triangular contest with Punjab Congress chief Captain Amarinder Singh and journalist-turned-politician Jarnail Singh of the AAP.
8.57 am: The SAD-BJP alliance is now ahead on one seat, Congress is ahead on eight and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) one.
8.41 am:Early trends emerging from Punjab show BJP-SAD leading on one seat and Congress ahead on as many.
8.26 am: Counting of votes begins for all 117 assembly seats begins in Punjab. Fifty-four counting centres have been established at 27 locations. More than 14,000 officials have been deployed.
8.07 am: Election Commission starts counting of votes in 54 centres at 27 locations in Punjab.
7.51 am: Congress leader and former chief minister Amarinder Singh turns 75 today. The party coming back to power in Punjab after 10 years should serve as the perfect gift for him.
7.49am: Counting in Punjab election results to begin at 8am. Votes will be counted at 54 centres in 27 locations set up for election to 117-member assembly.
