Chandigarh, Feb 24 (UNI) Polling began amid tight security this morning at 0800 hrs in the Valtoha Assembly constituency in Punjab where nearly 1,18,000 voters will decide the electoral fortunes of five candidates.

The polling was postponed in the constituency due to the death of CPI candidate, Kulwinder Singh, who had died in a road accident before the February 13 assembly polls in the state. His wife Kiran Bir Kaur has now been given the party ticket.

However, a keen contest is expected in Valtoha between Gurchet Singh of Congress and Virsa Singh of Shiromani Akali Dal. Other candidates in the fray include Bahujan Samaj Party's Swaran Singh and an independent Harchand Singh.

All arrangements have been made for peaceful and smooth conduct of the polling which will close at 1700 hrs, State Election Office here said adding elaborate security arrangements had been made to check any untoward incident.

The Punjab Government has already declared a public holiday today in the constituency to facilitate voters.

The campaigning in the constituency ended Thursday but door-to-door canvassing had continued till late last night.

The poll results will be declared along with other constituencies on February 27.

UNI