Punjab Polls 2022: 63.44% Turnout Till 5 PM; Voting Concludes in 117 Seats
Catch all live updates as Punjab's 117 constituencies vote in the Assembly elections.
advertisement
Voting for the Punjab Assembly polls has concluded in 23 districts and 117 constituencies. Till 5 pm on Sunday, 20 February, the turnout was recorded at 63.44 percent.
The polling on Sunday comes on the heels of cases being registered against Aam Aadmi Party's Arvind Kejriwal, Akali Dal's Sukhbir Badal, and Congress' Charanjit Channi for violation of the Model Code of Conduct.
While Kejriwal was charged for "derogatory remarks" made against leaders of other parties in a video, Channi was charged for visiting a temple in Manasa and then carrying out a door-to-door campaign in the area.
In the 2017 polls, the Congress had won a clear majority in the state Assembly by winning 77 seats under the leadership of Captain Amarinder Singh
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had emerged as the second-largest party with 20 seats, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had secured only three seats
Key Candidates in the Fray
Congress Punjab unit chief Navjot Singh Sidhu is contesting from Amritsar East.
Punjab chief minister Charanjit Channi is contesting from Bhadaur in Barnala district, in addition to his current seat of Chamkaur Sahib in Rupnagar district.
Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) chief ministerial candidate, Bhagwant Mann, is contesting from Dhuri in Sangrur district.
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal is contesting from his traditional Jalalabad seat. He won the seat in 2017, and later resigned in 2019 after being elected to the Lok Sabha.
Former chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh is also contesting from his traditional seat of Patiala. Singh won the seat in 2012, and 2017.
Voting To Begin Shortly
Voting for Punjab Assembly elections will begin at 8 am on Sunday.
'It is God's Will Now, We Have Made All Efforts': CM Channi
Chief Minister and Congress' CM face for the ongoing polls Charanjit Singh Channi offered prayers at Gurudwara Sri Katalgarh Sahib in Kharar and said, "It's leadership of the party. It'll now be the will of the almighty and people, we've made all efforts."
'People of Punjab Know Everything': AAP CM Face Bhagwant Mann
AAP's chief ministerial candidate Bhagwant Mann offered prayers at Gurdwara Sacha Dhan in Mohali on Sunday morning.
'Call Upon Youth, First-Timers to Vote in Large Numbers': PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday appealed for the youth to vote in large numbers.
'Urge People to Vote Carefully': Punjab Finance Minister
Punjab's Finance Minster, Manpreet Singh Badal urged people to vote 'carefully' in the polls on Sunday.
"I urge people to vote carefully in this election. Congress promises that if the 'Sarkaarwali pagdi' is given to the party, then it never let down the state," the minister said.
Glimpses From Punjab's Polling Stations
(Photo Courtesy: Twitter/@SpokespersonECI)
(Photo Courtesy: Twitter/@SpokespersonECI)
(Photo Courtesy: Twitter/@SpokespersonECI)
(Photo Courtesy: Twitter/@SpokespersonECI)
Bhagwant Mann Casts His Vote
AAP CM candidate Bhagwant Mann, fielded by his party from Dhuri in Sangrur, casts his vote in Mohali.
(Photo Courtesy: Twitter/@BhagwantMann)
Congress' Malvika Sood Casts Her Vote in Moga
Malvika Sood, Congress' candidate from Moga, casts her vote at Government Girls Senior Secondary School in the city.
"As a citizen and daughter of Moga, it's my duty to take Moga city forward. I'll visit booths and meet people, they are waiting for me to visit them," ANI quoted Sood as saying.
Punjab Min Pargat Singh Votes in Mithapur
Punjab's Education, Sports and NRI Affairs Minister Pargat Singh casts his vote at a polling booth in Mithapur.
He states, "Jalandhar voting will be done on the confidence built among the people of Punjab by CM Channi."
Congress' Sunil Jakhar Casts His Vote
Congress leader Sunil Jakhar casts his vote in district Fazilka's Aboha.
An Hour Into Voting, 4.80% Voter Turnout Recorded
District-Wise Voter Turnout Till 9 AM
Amritsar - 4.14%
Gurdaspur - 4.97%
Pathankot - 2.25%
Tarn Taran - 3.66%
Jalandhar - 3.00%
Kapurthala - 5.05%
Hoshiarpur - 4.32%
Nawan Shehar - 4.83%
Ludhiana - 3.81%
Roop Nagar - 6.36%
Fatehgarh Sahib - 6.94%
Patiala - 6.63%
Sangrur - 4.86%
Barnala - 6.70%
SAS Nagar (Mohali) - 2.18%
Bathinda - 5.75%
Mansa - 4.83%
Muktsar - 6.21%
Ferozepur - 6.36%
Fazilka - 6.61%
Faridkot - 4.88%
Moga - 5.26%
Malerkotla - 8.01%
Glimpses From Punjab
Voters in Balongi, Mohali.
Jalandhar: A woman leaves after casting her vote at a polling station, during Punjab Assembly elections, in Jalandhar.
Voters in Balongi, Mohali.
BJP tent at a booth in Balongi.
Voters being sent back for not having masks on Balongi.
'Today, We've to Vote Carefully': Navjot Singh Sidhu
Navjot Singh Sidhu Casts His Vote in Amritsar
Congress candidate from Amritsar East and Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee chief Navjot Singh Sidhu and his wife cast their votes in Amritsar.
'Had To Contest as People Told Me To': Manohar Singh
Manohar Singh, Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi's brother who is contesting as an independent candidate from Bassi Pathana, spoke to reporters on Sunday and said, "Congress made a good decision (Deciding on Channi as their CM face). People have accepted this decision, party will be benefitted by work done by my brother and they'll form government."
"I was working in the constituency. I had winnability - not me, but their survey, says this. Still, I was ignored by High Command. I had to contest as people told me to. I hope I pass," he added.
Punjab Deputy CM Sukhjiinder Singh Randhawa Casts His Vote
Punjab Deputy CM and Congress leader Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa casts his vote at a polling booth in Dera Baba Nanak.
'SAD-BSP is Going to Make a Clean Sweep': SAD Chief
Voter Turnout Recorded 17.77% at 11 AM
District-Wise Voter Turnout Till 11 AM
Gurdaspur - 18.74%
Amritsar - 15.48%
Pathankot - 12.44%
Tarn Taran - 15.79%
Jalandhar - 14.30%
Kapurthala - 16.03%
Hoshiarpur - 18.88%
Nawan Shehar - 16.65%
Ludhiana - 15.58%
Roop Nagar - 19.44%
Fatehgarh Sahib - 20.12%
Patiala - 20.34%
Sangrur - 19.88%
Barnala - 20.15%
SAS Nagar (Mohali) - 13.15%
Bathinda - 21.08%
Mansa - 19.75%
Muktsar - 23.34%
Ferozepur - 19.29%
Fazilka - 22.55%
Faridkot - 18.79%
Moga - 16.29%
Malerkotla - 22.07%
'I am Certain of Winning Patiala': Capt Amarinder Singh
Captain Amarinder Singh Casts His Vote
Punjab Lok Congress founder and former Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh casts his vote.
“Over 30% voter turnout has been recorded till 1pm, this is a good sign. We will see a very good win in Patiala and nearby seats. If BJP-PLC and Dhindhsa's party is getting a good response, then what else do we need,” Singh said on Sunday.
Attacking the Congress, he added, “they are concerned about what I am able to achieve in Punjab which is going against them. I can predict that Congress will not get more than 20-30 seats.”
34.10% Voter Turnout Recorded Till 1 PM
Sonu Sood's Car Impounded in Moga
Moga District PRO Pradbhdeep Singh said on Sunday that activist Sonu Sood's vehicle was impounded after he was suspected of trying to enter a polling booth in Moga.
"During this, his car was confiscated and he was sent home. Action will be taken against him if he steps out of his house," Singh added.
His sister Malvika Sood is contesting from Moga as a Congress candidate.
Claiming that he had gone to ensure a free and fair franchise, Sood responded, "We got to know of threat calls at various booths by opposition, especially the people of Akali Dal. Money being distributed at some booths. So it's our duty to go check and ensure fair elections. That's why we had gone out. Now, we're at home."
Conjoined Twins Cast Vote in Amritsar
Conjoined twins Sohna and Mohna show their ink marked fingers after casting their votes for Punjab Assembly polls, at a polling station near Amritsar.
Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi Casts Vote
Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi casts his vote at a polling booth in Kharar.
'For Us, He's Already CM': Bhagwant Mann's Mother
"By God's grace, everyone loves him. For us, he has already become the CM. People love him," said Harpal Kaur, mother of AAP chief ministerial candidate Bhagwant Mann.
Voter Turnout at 5:00 PM
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)