New Delhi: Punjab polls, which began on Tuesday morning, seem to be driven by boxes and booze.
While, some parts of the state are braving the winter chill with a battle of fists, there are other regions which are saying cheers with the alcohol provided by political parties.
Sale or distribution of liquor in Punjab is banned during polls but CNN-IBN teams across the state have found that the ban isn't effective.
There were crates of alcohol hidden under bales of hay in Sialba Majra village, just outside Chandigarh. Political parties have made sure they have enough alcohol to keep voters warm during the chilly winter polls.
Reacting to the report, the Election Commission has ordered an inquiry into the matter and has said that strict action will be taken against the offenders.
Sale or distribution of liquor in Punjab is banned during polls but it was found that the ban isn't effective across the state. Hours before the elections, Crates of whiskey were brought out and distributed to villages in proportion to the votes the party is likely to get.
Despite a 48-hour ban enforced by Excise officials ahead of polling in the state liquor is available to anyone who asks for it. Even women have been roped in to distribute the bottles and political parties have made sure they have enough to keep voters warm during the chilly winter polls.
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The inadequate security arrangements in the VIP seat of Lambi, where former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal is contesting against cousin Mahesh Inder Singh Badal of the Congress, were exposed on Tuesday as workers of both sides clashed inside a polling station in a government school in Badal village, 200 km from here.
It was reported that within hours of the first phase of polling, Mahesh Inder Badal got into a scuffle with Akali Dal supporters in Lambi.
There were only a few policemen at the polling station at the time of the clash. Reinforcements were rushed in nearly an hour after the incident.
Parkash Singh Badal and Mahesh Inder Singh had cast their vote at the same place earlier.
Punjab Assembly has a total of 117 seats. But 115 seats are going to polls.
Elections for two seats are slated for later this month. A total of 1.66 crore voters are entitled to cast their vote and the total number of contestants in the fray are 1,038.
Within hours of the first phase of polling, Congress candidate Mahesh Inder Badal got into a scuffle with Akali Dal supporters in cousin Prakash Singh Badal’s constituency, Lambi.
There were only a few policemen at the polling station at the time of the clash. Reinforcements were rushed in nearly an hour after the incident. Parkash Singh Badal and Mahesh Inder Singh had cast their vote at the same place earlier.
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