Polling for Gurdaspur LS by-elections underway, minor clashes

Gurdaspur Lok Sabha by-polls saw a moderate turnout of voters in the first half of the day on Wednesday, even as minor clashes were reported between the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) workers in some villages.

The six-month old government of the Congress is pitted against equally strong contenders in the BJP-SAD, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)

23-25 per cent voting was reported in the constituency, with long queues of voters seen at some polling stations.

Congress veteran leader Sunil Jakha is contesting against BJP candidate, businessman Swaran Salaria and AAP candidate, Retired Major Genral Suresh Khajuria.

The Congress hopes to continue its winning streak, while the BJP counts on the works of its ruling government at the Centre.

Notably, the election saw aggressive campaigning from all three parties, with BJP's Salaria aiming to dethrone Congress for its government's non-fulfillment of promises in the 2017 Vidhan Sabha polls, especially the promise of farm debt waiver.

The election was necessitated after the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha seat fell vacant following the death of BJP MP Vinod Khanna.

Khanna represented the constituency from 1998 to 2004, and later from 2004 until his death in April this year.