The SAD-BJP combine is up against Congress and Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party which is fighting state polls for the first time.
The election will witness key contests featuring several political stalwarts like Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, Deputy CM and SAD chief Sukhbir Badal, state Congress chief and former CM Amarinder Singh, cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu who left BJP for the Congress, and AAP leader Bhagwant Mann.
The key issues during the campaigning included drugs, river water issue including SYL canal, cancer in parts of the state, law and order, sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib, farm debt, farmer suicides, and development
Though debutant Aam Aadmi Party is considered the dark horse, the Congress, which accelerated its campaign in the last two weeks, appears the strongest contender.
The Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP alliance, though fighting anti-incumbency, has tried its best to protect its base in the rural areas of Punjab.
The State’s voters are, however, looking for change. Agrarian distress, unemployment, increasing cases of drug abuse, corruption and high-handedness of those who are close to the powerful have forced the people to look towards an alternative.
Demonetisation has further worsened the situation in industrial and farming belts, leaving the youth agitated.
Both the AAP and the Congress have promised the voters that they would bring back the glory of Punjab if elected to power.
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