Jalandhar, February 13
In an unprecedented polling, about 75 per cent of a total of 13.54 lakh voters today exercised their franchise in all the 10 constituencies in Jalandhar district thereby sealing. the fate of the 92 candidates in the fray.

The office of the District Election Officer received no complaint or objection from any political party or Independent candidate. Apart from a few verbal duals at some places, polling was by and large peaceful.

Against an average polling of 50 per cent in the past, a whopping 75 per cent voters participated in the polling, thus surprising poll pundits, who were expecting a considerable drop in turnout in view of downpour.

Rural voters exhibited the most enthusiasm in the polling. Adampur constituency surpassed all other constituencies by registering 80 per cent turnout, followed by Nurmahal (78 per cent).

While 70 per cent of urban people ventured out of their homes to cast the vote, ruralites outnumbered them as on an average 75 per cent of them voted for their favoured candidates at all 1,348 polling booths set up in the district.

“The polling was peaceful. No complaints received from anyone,” said Mr A. Venu Parsad, District Election Officer.

However, there were only a few incidents of flaring up of tempers, but minus any violence.

Polling was halted in Quila Mohalla due to verbal dual between supporters of Congress and BJP candidates.

Tension erupted in booth no. 66 in Santokhpura locality in Jalandhar after objections were raised over veracity of a vote, but it was eventually found to be right.

Activists of the Congress and the BJP got entangled in minor quarrels in Charanjitpura locality falling in Jalandhar (Central).

KAPURTHALA: The political fate of several heavyweights contesting from the four constituencies of the district was sealed today.

They included SAD candidates and former ministers Bibi Jagir Kaur (Bholath), Bibi Upinderjeet Kaur (Sultanpur Lodhi) and Raghubir Singh (Kapurthala) and BJP candidate Swarna Ram (Phagwara).

Similarly, the fate of Congress candidates, Joginder Singh Mann (Phagwara), Sukhjpal Singh Khaira (Bholath), Jalandhar MP Rana Gurjit Singh’s wife Rajbans Kaur (Kapurthala) and Navtej Singh Cheema (Sultanpur Lodhi).

While these candidates and their supporters are claiming their victories but they will have to wait for two weeks to know the exact results of the elections.

The District Returning Officer, Mr Raminder Singh, said polling in all the constituencies of the district remained peaceful.

As much as 76.25 per cent polling was reported in the entire district with highest of 80 per cent in Bholath and lowest of 69 per cent in Phagwara.

On the other hand, 78 per cent polling was reported in each of Kapurthala and Sultanpur Lodhi constituencies.

Mr Raminder Singh said five EVMs were found defective and while three of them started working within a few minutes. Two of them were replaced.

BATALA: Mr Sandip Rishi, SDM-cum-Returning Officer, said by and large the polling ended peacefully in 146 polling booths of Batala. He said the police had registered a case against a person for carrying some weapons near the polling booth.