Dhuri bypoll begins; keen fight between Congress, SAD

The by-election to Dhuri constituency began today, in a fierce battle between the ruling Akal Dal and opposition Congress.
The polling began on a slow note this morning and had gradually started to pick up and by 1230 p.M., over 30 per cent of voters had cast their vote, officials said, adding no untoward incident had been reported so far.
Dhuri by-poll was necessitated after Congress MLA Arvind Khanna resigned from the seat in January this year.
Opposition Congress has described the by-poll as "beginning of the end of SAD-BJP combine", while the ruling party SAD is aiming absolute majority in the 117-member Assembly with the election.

At present, SAD has 58 MLAs in the 117-seat Punjab Vidhan Sabha.
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has fielded former minister Gobind Singh Longowal while Congress-Sanjha Morcha candidate is political greenhorn Simar Partap Singh Barnala, the grandson of former Punjab Chief Minister Surjeet Singh Barnala.

Aam Aadmi Party is staying away from Dhuri by-poll despite AAP MP Bhagwant Singh Mann garnering sizable votes from this assembly constituency, part of Sangrur Parliamentary seat during last Lok Sabha polls.
However, SAD (Amritsar) candidate Surjit Singh Kalabula is also expected to give a tough fight to candidates of both major political parties.
The constituency has 1.51 lakh registered voters with twelve candidates in the fray.

Officials said that over 1,800 cops have been deployed at 116 polling booths for holding smooth and peaceful by-poll.
The polling which began at 8 am will close at 5 pm.