There are 1,304 candidates in the running, including 93 women and two transgender people. An average voter turnout of 63.44 percent was registered until 5 p.m., according to the Punjab main electoral office.
In the wake of Guru Ravidas Jayanti, the Election Commission had previously postponed the polling date for the assembly elections from February 14 to February 20. The Congress secured an absolute majority in the 2017 assembly elections in the state, winning 77 seats and ousting the SAD-BJP government, which had been in power for ten years. This time, the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party, which is regarded a formidable contender by political observers, is adding some much-needed spice to the mix.
SAD's Sukhbir Singh Badal (contesting from Jalalabada), Punjab Lok Congress's Capt Amarinder Singh (contesting from Patiala), Parkash Singh Badal (contesting from Lambi), Congress's Sukhpal Khaira (contesting from Bholuth), and Congress's Charanjit Singh Channi (contesting from Bhadaur, Chamkaur Sahib seats), Congress's Charanjit Singh Ch (contesting from Mohali).
The Congress is counting on measures made during incumbent CM Charanjit Singh Channi's 111-day term, such as lower energy and fuel rates. The Aam Aadmi Party, which has emerged as a serious challenger, wants to seize power by promoting the Delhi style of administration. The stakes are especially high for the Shiromani Akali Dal, which is contesting the elections in coalition with the Bahujan Samaj Party after cutting relations with the BJP over the farm laws issue in 2020. The SAD, led by Sukhbir Singh Badal, dubbed itself Punjab's own party and pledged the state's all-round development. The BJP, which was a minor partner in the previous coalition with the SAD, is now a prominent player in the elections. The saffron party has invited voters to vote for a double-engine administration for Nawan (new) Punjab after forming an alliance with Amarinder Singh's Punjab Lok Congress and Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa's SAD (Sanyukt).
The Sanyukt Samaj Morcha, which is made up of various Punjab farmer organisations that were involved in the uprising against the Centre's now-repealed farm laws, is running in the elections with the Sanyukt Sangharsh Party, which is led by Haryana Bharatiya Kisan Union (Chaduni) leader Gurnam Singh Chaduni. Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, Aam Aadmi Party's chief ministerial candidate Bhagwant Mann, Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu, former chief ministers Amarinder Singh and Parkash Singh Badal, and Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal are among the prominent figures in the race.
Former chief minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, Punjab BJP chief Ashwani Sharma, and former Union minister Vijay Sampla are all candidates. To entice voters, all of the main political parties have offered a slew of freebies.
The Congress has offered Rs 1,100 per month for destitute women, whereas the AAP has promised Rs 1,000 for all women. All women heads of blue card holder families will receive Rs 2,000 per month from the SAD-BSP coalition (BPL beneficiaries).
One lakh government jobs have been promised by the Congress and the SAD-BSP coalition. In the public and private sectors, the SAD-BSP promised 75 percent reservation for state youth. The BJP-led coalition has made a similar pledge, but solely for the public sector.
The AAP has pledged up to 300 units of free electricity, while the SAD-BSP has promised 400 units. On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Minister Smriti Irani, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal wrapped up their high-octane campaigning.
Modi had accused the Congress and the AAP of pretending to fight each other at three rallies in Jalandhar, Pathankot, and Abohar, spanning Punjab's Doaba, Majha, and Malwa areas. In the Punjab elections, Rahul Gandhi warned people against participating in any "experiment," stressing that keeping peace was the most essential thing for the state and that only his party was capable of doing it.
There are 2,14,99,804 voters in all, including 1,02,00,996 women. According to an official, there are 24,740 voting locations, 2,013 of which have been designated as essential. According to the source, adequate security procedures have been taken to ensure free and fair voting.
The state administration has proclaimed a paid vacation for staff working in stores, commercial establishments, and factories on Sunday in the aftermath of the elections. The Congress won 77 seats in the 2017 Punjab Assembly elections, ending the SAD-BJP coalition's 10-year rule.
The AAP received 20 seats, the SAD-BJP received 18, and the Lok Insaaf Party received two seats.
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