Chandigarh: Electors queued up in chilling morning winter amid thick fog to cast their votes in more than 13,276 villages that went to polls in the state of Punjab on Sunday. The polling began in 13,000 panchayats in the northern state amid heavy security.
The voting began at 8 am and will continue till 4 pm on Sunday and the counting will be done after the polling.
All necessary arrangements were to ensure smooth, transparent and peaceful polling at the booths, said an election official. Around 4.363 sarpanchs and as many as 46,754 panchs were elected unopposed, the official added.
More than 8,000 candidates are in the fray for the positions of Sarpanchs and Panchs in the state. As many as 13,276 sarpanchs and 83,831 panchs will be elected for 13,276 villages.
Almost 1.27 crore electors are expected to cast their votes in the polls. Nearly 17,268 polling booths were set up by the State Election Commission and 86,340 personnel are deputed for the polls.