Over 70% polling in Punjab bypoll

IANS  |  Chandigarh 

Over 70 per cent polling was reported on Monday in the bypoll to the Assembly seat in Punjab, a said.

Polling, which began at 7 a.m., was continuing even after the 6 p.m. deadline as voters who had queued up earlier were allowed to cast their vote.

With the prevailing heat wave in Punjab, voters started queuing up early in the day.

Long queues of voters were seen at some polling stations, especially in rural areas, in the constituency located in district.

At some polling stations, there were no voters in the afternoon due to the heat wave.

said earlier that 1,72,676 eligible voters will decide the fate of 12 candidates in this constituency.

The main contest is between the ruling Congress, the and the (AAP).

Over 1,000 security personnel, including Police and Border Security Force, have been stationed in the constituency for a smooth process.

The seat fell vacant following the death of sitting in February. Kohar, a former minister, was elected five times from this seat. His son has been fielded by the Akali Dal.

The candidate is Hardev Singh Ladi, who had lost to Kohar by nearly 5,000 votes in the Assembly elections in February 2017. The AAP has fielded Rattan Singh as its candidate.

Counting of votes will take place on Thursday.

--IANS

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First Published: Mon, May 28 2018. 19:34 IST