M A I N   N E W S

Over 70 pc polling in Sunam

CHANDIGARH, Sept 29 (UNI) — Over 70 per cent of the 1.39 lakh voters exercised franchise in the Sunam Assembly byelection in Sangrur district of Punjab today, according to preliminary reports available at the state election headquarters here.

The polling, spread over 147 booths, passed off peacefully with no untoward incident reported from anywhere in the constituency, Chief Electoral Officer Barjinder Singh said here this evening.

The polling began on a moderate note as the booths opened at 0700 hours. About 25 per cent of the voters had cast their vote till 1200 hours. The polling picked up thereafter in the afternoon to become brisk. Long queues of voters were witnessed at some booths in the afternoon. At some booths women voters outnumbered males.

The authorities had made elaborate security arrangements in the entire constituency to ensure free, fair and peaceful polling.

Electronic voting machines were used for the polling in the byelection in a bid to prevent bogus voting.

The Election Commission had deputed three observers (two general and one expenditure) to oversee the byelection. The observers will submit their reports direct to the Election Commission.

Of the 13 contestants in the fray, political fortunes of ruling Akali Dal-BJP combine nominee Parminder Singh Dhindsa, son of Union Sports Minister Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, was at stake in today’s poll. Other prominent contestants in the fray are Mrs Parmeshwari Devi (Cong), Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra (SHSAD), Mr Sukhjinder Singh (Akali Dal-Mann), Mr Sampuran Singh (CPI) and Mr Kartar Singh (RPI). The remaining seven contestants were Independents.

The byelection has been caused due to the death of Congress legislator Bhagwan Dass whose wife Parmeshwari Devi was the party nominee in the byelection.

Counting of votes will be taken up at 800 hours on October 3 and the result is expected by noon that day.

In a statement, Dr Barjinder Singh said that no incident of booth capturing, impersonation, bogus voting, interruption, obstruction, violence and breach of law and order had been reported from any quarter of the constituency during the entire poll process.

Sunam police books MLA, SHO
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 29 — Dr Brajendra Singh, Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab, said here today that the Sunam police had registered a case against one MLA, Mr Manmohan Singh Sathiala, and one SHO, Mr Nirapjit Singh, in connection with the alleged beating of Mr Rajinder Deepa, Congress party activist and son-in-law of Mrs Parmeshwari Devi, Congress party candidate for the Sunam byelection.

Polling in the Sunam constituency was held today. No further details were immediately available of this case.

Dr Brajendra Singh, who released the statement through the Public Relations Department, said that as many as 15 cases under the Excise Act and Anti-Narcotic Act had been registered by the Sunam police in the constituency.