Chandigarh: Constituencies from where women candidates staked their political fortunes witnessed high polling in the January 30 Punjab assembly elections.

A total of 93 women out of 1078 contestants entered the race for the state assembly this time.

A turnout of 87.21 per cent was recorded in Malerkotla constituency where wives of two top cops -- one retired and another serving -- crossed swords.

The ruling Shiromani Akali Dal had fielded first-timer Farzana Alam, wife of retired DGP Mohammed Izhar Alam, against opposition Congress' two-time MLA, Razia Sultana, wife of state Additional Director General of Police Mohammed Mustafa.

The story was similar at Lehra from where former Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal sought re-election. The seat from hinterland Malwa registered 85.74 per cent polling.

In Bholath seat from where former SGPC chief Bibi Jagir Kaur (SAD) tried her luck, the turnout was 81 per cent. Braving the winter chill, the electorate turned out in large numbers at Muktsar which registered 82 per cent voting.

Former Chief Minister Harcharan Singh Brar's daughter Karan Kaur had entered the race from this seat.

SAD minister Upinderjeet Kaur's Sultanpur Lodhi seat witnessed 80.44 per cent polling.

In sharp contrast, Amritsar East assembly seat, where BJP MP Navjot Sidhu's wife Navjot Kaur tried her luck, saw 66.16 per cent voting.

PTI