Punjab Elections 2017: 2598 kgs drugs seized; Navjot Singh Sidhu violates Model Code of Conduct
Apart from the drug menace, the contentious SYL canal issue and sacrilege of holy books of Sikhs were among the major issues flagged by the electoral rivals.
Voting to elect 117-member Punjab Assembly took place on Saturday. In a three-cornered contest with Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP, Congress and new entrant Aam Aadmi Party, Punjab is battling anti-incumbency after a 10-year rule.
In the high-stake election, first after Modi Government's demonetization move, 1,145 candidates, including 81 women and a transgender are in the fray.
The early voters included General JJ Singh (Red) of SAD, Pargat Singh of Congress, Sucha Singh Chhotepur of Apna Punjab Party (APP), and Bhagwant Mann, Gurpreet Singh Ghuggi and Sukhpal SIngh Kahiara of AAP.
Congress candidate Ravneet Singh Bittu said AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal had joined hands with fundamentalists to fight the state polls.
General (Retd) JJ Singh said SAD-BJP will perform a hattrick and form the government.
The AAP, which had won four Lok Sabha seats in 2014, has plunged into the contest in a big way with its chief Arvind Kejriwal criss-crossing large parts of the state.
The Badal family came under fierce attack from AAP over alleged corruption, drug menace and law and order while the SAD-BJP and Congress accused AAP of flirting with extremists and targeted Kejriwal for being an "outsider".
Kejriwal, in turn, accused Congress Chief Amarinder Singh and the Badals of being hand in glove.
Key contestants whose fate will be decided include: Punjab Congress Chief Amarinder Singh (Patiala and Lambi seats), Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal (Lambi) and his son Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal (Jalalabad), AAP MP Bhagwant Mann (Jalalabad), Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia (Majitha) and cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu as Congress nominee (Amritsar East).
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Sidhu 'violates' model code, enters polling premises in cars
Cricketer turned politician Navjot Singh Sidhu allegedly violated the model code of conduct as he along with his family, entered the premises of a polling booth in private cars in Amritsar, for casting vote.
The four-time former MP, his wife Navjot Kaur Sidhu and their son Karan Sidhu entered the Mata Saroop Rani College premises along with their cavalcade of three private luxury cars, sources said.
Sidhu is contesting the Assembly polls from Amritsar East seat on Congress ticket.
As per Election Commission guidelines, nobody could move in the polling booth premises along with their vehicles, except handicapped or physically challenged persons.
Sidhu and his family, who were moving in three different SUV cars, were stopped at the main entrance gate of the polling booth by the paramilitary forces. But he gained entry by saying that he was carrying special permission to go inside along with the vehicles.
On being contacted, Deputy Commissioner-cum Returning Officer Basant Garg said that a complaint has been received in this regard.
"We are verifying the facts by checking the CCTV footage. If legitimate proof proves that his vehicles were found inside the premises, action will be initiated as per the guidelines of Election Commission of India. Sidhu was not permitted to go there along with his vehicles," Garg said.
Sidhu's residence falls in the Amritsar North constituency.
His wife Navjot Kaur had won the elections from Amritsar East during the previous assembly polls on BJP ticket.
- PTI
Election Commission conducting a press conference on Punjab and Goa elections.
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Polling in Punjab ends.
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In the autumn of her life, 106-year-old Mala Devi today sent out a message to voters by making efforts to exercise her franchise here. Devi of ward number 12 at Guru Arjan Dev Nagar cast her vote at booth number 132, Ludhiana Deputy Commissioner Ravi Bhagat said.
She was provided pick and drop facility by the Ludhiana administration, he said. Ludhiana's poll volunteers went to her residence and brought her accompanied by some family members to the polling station and dropped her home after she cast her vote, he said.
Poll officials also helped her to the booth in a wheel chair. She was also presented a rose as a goodwill gesture.
District Election Officer-cum-Deputy Commissioner Ravi Bhagat said the administration through volunteers are approaching such voters at their residence to bring them to the polling booth. "We are in process of identifying more with an aim to help all of them cast their votes till the end of the polling," said Bhagat.
- PTI
Several voters across the state experienced problems during the polling process today, as a large number of voter-verified paper audit trail (VVPAT) machines, installed for the first time in the ongoing Punjab Assembly elections, developed a technical snag.
Reports of a large number of machines not able to function due to technical snag have come in from Amritsar, Muktsar and Sangrur district. Due to the problem, polling had to be called off a number of times, Punjab Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) VK Singh said, adding these machines were replaced by others.
The election commission has installed VVPAT machines in 33 of the 117 constituencies for the assembly polls and two assembly segments as part of the Amritsar by-polls.
The election commission raised apprehensions regarding performance of the paper-trail machine, which gives a receipt to the voter, verifying the vote casted in favour of the candidate, against whose name the button is pressed.
- PTI
Highest polling in Fatehgarh Sahib with 62%, followed by Sangrur 60%
56.9% polling in Punjab till 3 PM.
Arvind Kejriwal takes to Twitter complaining about poll timings in Punjab.
Punjab has recorded an overall voter turnout of 48% till 2:30 pm.
Bike borne men open fire near a polling booth in Ferozepur district's Guru Har Sahai area, no injuries
Punjab has recorded an overall voter turnout of 36.05% till 1 pm
Brisk polling going on as around 35% of the total 1.98 crore electors exercised their franchise till 1 pm.
"Polling is going peacefully," Additional Director General of Police (ADGP-elections) V K Bhawra said.
Meanwhile, a technical snag was reported in voter-verified paper audit trail (VVPAT) machines in Majitha and Sangrur, the spokesman said, adding that the matter had been referred to the Election Commission.
After 30-yras there was blast in Punjab. Kejriwal having dinner and breakfast with Babbar Khalsa it is clear indication ISI sponsors Kejriwal: Harsimrat Kaur
Cricketer Harbhajan Singh along with his mother Avtar Kaur, waiting to cast his vote at polling booth no.23 in Jalandhar
Amarinder Singh is dal-badlu. I have 70-yers of experience. I fought for Punjab & India, this is a small battle: CM Parkash Singh Badal
10% polling in Punjab till 10 am
Around 8 to 10 per cent of the total 1.98 crore electors have exercised their franchise till 10 AM to seal the fate of 1,145 candidates in the high-stakes Punjab Assembly elections.
"8 to 10 per cent polling has taken place till 10 AM," an election office spokesman said here, adding that the polling was peaceful.
The polling started around 45 minutes late at two polling booths in Jalandhar and Amritsar due to technical glitch in the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
Congress candidate Pargat Singh casts his vote at booth no. 66 in Jalandhar.
Long queues of voters at booth no. 66 in Jalandhar after polling delayed due to glitch in the EVM machine.
The environment is charged and very positive, we are confident of a win: Captain Amarinder Singh's wife, Preneet Kaur
Polling at booth no.124-125 in Amritsar began 40 minutes late due to a glitch in the EVM machine
Voting in Punjab begins. 1145 candidates to contest across 117 seats.
Gen JJ Singh (Retd) SAD candidate against Congress's Amarinder Singh from Patiala Urban, arrives to cast his vote.