New Delhi: Heavy to moderate polling was reported till Monday afternoon in Punjab and Uttarakhand. The two northern states are among five states where state elections are taking place in the current round to elect new state legislative assemblies.
Braving biting cold and icy winds, voters in the Himalayan state Uttarakhand took time to report at polling booth, while situation was somewhat better in Punjab. However, according to the Election Commission, while over 40 per cent votes had been cast in Punjab, the voter turnout was somewhat lower in Uttarakhand till afternoon.
Peaceful
The polling in the two states was by and large peaceful with no untoward incidents reported, although the Election Commission received some complaints, mainly related to the non-functional or malfunctioning of the electronic voting machines.
Incidentally both Punjab and Uttarakhand are ruled by India's principal opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). While it is in power on its own in Uttarakhand, it shares power with the Shiromani Akali Dal as the junior partner in Punjab.
India's ruling Congress party has been banking its hope of coming to power in both these state riding the anti-incumbency factor which was not visible during the electioneering. Low voter turn out normally is attributed to lack of anti-incumbency in elections.
The elections in five states, namely Manipur, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Goa are being seen as the mini general election which may indicate the mood of Indian voters in the wake of a string of corruption charges against the Congress party-led United Progressive Alliance Government at the centre.
While elections were conducted in Manipur on Saturday, Uttar Pradesh is slated to go to polls between February 6 and March 3 in seven phases while Goa will go to polls in the single phase on March 3.
Counting of votes will take place in all five states on March 6.
