Polling in Goa, Punjab to be held tomorrow
03 February, New Delhi
Polling in Goa and Punjab to be held tomorrow for state assemblies and the Election Commission has made all arrangements for smooth, free and fair elections.
In the 40-member Legislative Assembly of Goa, a total of 251 candidates are in fray. The ruling BJP, opposition Congress, new entrant Aam Aadmi Party and the three-party alliance forged by Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party, Goa Suraksha Manch and Shiv Sena are the main contenders. Voting across all polling booths in the state would begin at 7 AM and end at 5 PM.
In Punjab, polling will be held tomorrow to elect the 117-member Assembly. Out of 117 constituencies 34 are reserved.
Chief Electoral Officer of Punjab VK Singh told media at Chandigarh that all polling parties have reached at their destinations with polling material and EVMs. He said that about 2 lakh personnel have been deployed on election duty for smooth conduct of polling.
Additional Director General of Punjab Police told the media that more than one lakh security personnel are deployed for free and fair conduct of voting.
Our correspondent reports that polling in the state will begin at 8 AM and will end at 5 PM.
The voting in Amritsar Lok Sabha seat by-election will also take place tomorrow.
In Uttar Pradesh, hectic campaigning is going on at places where poll is scheduled on 11th and 15th of this month.
At Agra, SP chief and UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav took out a roadshow along with Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi today.
In Meerut, BJP president Amit Shah, as a mark of protest, cancelled his scheduled Padyatra, over murder of a trader in the area yesterday. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh addressed a poll rally in Lakhimpur Kheri and attacked the ruling Samajwadi Party government.
BSP chief Mayawati addressed poll rallies in Etah and at various other places where she leveled charges against the BJP government at the center who help big industrial houses on the cost of common people.
In Uttrakhand the election campaign is picking up now with senior leaders from Bhartiya Janta Party and Congress visiting the poll bound state.
The polling in the state would held in single phase on 15th of this month.