Moga, Punjab (February 23, 2013): There are reports of 70% voting in Moga By-election that was conducted today.
“Braving heavy rain Saturday, over 70 percent of the electorate in Punjab’s Moga assembly seat cast their franchise” certain media sections have reported.
People lined up at various polling booths to cast their votes in the by-election, officials reportedly said.
Fate of Ten candidates, including four Independents, is now reported in electoral voting machines.
The main contest was between the ruling Badal Dal and the opposition Congress. The Badal Dal fielded Joginder Pal Jain against Congress candidate Vijay Kumar Sathi.
It is notable that Joginder Pal Jain had quit the assembly seat and the Congress December 26, 2012 and joined the Badal Dal. He was elected from the seat on the Congress ticket in the January 30, 2012 assembly election last year.
As per reports Jain was elected as a legislator on the Congress ticket from here twice – in 2007 and 2012.
The People’s Party of Punjab (PPP), led by former finance minister Manpreet Badal, had fielded Ravinder Singh Dhaliwal in the contest, ignoring a move by the Congress leadership to put up a joint opposition candidate.