Counting of votes for 117 assembly seats will commence at 8 am in 27 locations across Punjab (AFP)
With exit polls predicting an end to ruling Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party (SAD-BJP) alliance, all eyes are set on the
results of Punjab elections which will be declared tomorrow, March 11. Counting of votes for 117 assembly seats, which could witness a neck-and-neck fight between Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress, will begin from 8 am at 54 centres in 27 locations, said a spokesman from the election office. Live election results will also be telecast on TV screens at district election offices, prominent public places and malls.
More than 14,000 officials have been deployed at the counting centres, where tight security arrangements have been made to ensure that the entire exercise is completed peacefully. Unauthorised persons will not be allowed to enter the counting centres. Except for election observers, nobody will be allowed to carry mobile phones.
Poll results will also be updated on the Election Commission's website at regular intervals.
Despite the exit polls predicting a total rout for the ruling SAD-BJP alliance, which is targeting a third term in the state, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal claimed a win of 72 seats. State Congress chief Amarinder Singh also claimed his party would emerge victorious on 65 seats. The AAP, on the other hand, was confident of bagging close to 100 seats.
The state went to polls in a single phase on February 4 and recorded 78.60 per cent polling as against 78.57 per cent voter turnout in 2012. As many as 1,145 candidates are in the fray, 81 of whom are women and one transgender. The SAD contested 94 seats while BJP in 23 seats. The Congress had contested in all seats. The AAP contested on 112 seats while its ally Lok Insaf Party, led by the Bains brothers of Ludhiana, on 5 seats.
(with inputs from PTI)