Punjab registers 66% voter turnout

An estimated over 66 per cent of total 1.16 crore electors exercised their franchise seeking the fate of 139 candidates for the nine Lok Sabha seats in Punjab. 

The polling was peaceful barring sporadic incidents of violence and minor skirmishes in which 18 activists of different political outfits were injured, including ten of the main opponent Congress.    

Barring minor clashes at a few places the polling in the state remained 'very peaceful' with no major untoward incident reported from any where, Punjab's Chief Electoral Officer Kusumjit Sidhu told reporters after culimnation of poll exercise.    

The polling percentage of 66 per cent is higher as compared to 61.59 per cent polling in the 2004 Lok Sabha poll.     

In the first phase of polling for 4 seats of Bathinda, Patiala, Sangrur and Ferozepur 73.2 per cent of the 52.75 lakh voters had sealed the fate of 79 candidates.