Punjab elections: Campaigning ends, divided voters may surprise

Chandigarh: Campaigning for the Punjab Assembly polls has peacefully commenced on Friday amid indications that no party is likely to attain a clear majority (59 seats) due to multi contest this time.

The main parties in the fray are the Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, SAD-BSP, BJP-PLC-SAD (Sanyukt) and Sanyukt Samaj Morcha, a farmers’ front.

Concerned candidates tried many tricks, from visiting deras, holding rallies and even holding closed-door meetings with their poll managers at eleventh hour to influence voters and also to get feedback on the ground situation.

Congress, while putting up a joined front led by Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi along with PCC chief Navjot Singh Sidhu jointly launched its 13-point manifesto after campaigning in their constituencies on Saturday.

According to poll pandits, AAP has a neck to neck competition with ruling Congress and party led by CM face Bhagwant Mann may get maximum 40-45 sets or reach majority marks if they get the rural votes as it being claimed by AAP leaders in the polls, which is going on voting on Sunday. The result will be out on March 10.