Chandigarh, June 30: Congress today claimed to have won between 65 and 70 per cent of the 12,337 Panchayats in Punjab which went to the polls yesterday. Chief Minister Amarinder Singh claimed at a press conference here that congress polled less than 50 per cent votes only in three districts - Mansa, Moga and Nawanshahar - out of the 17 in the state. The party polled the highest 90 per cent in Gurdaspur district and lowest 42 per cent in Mansa district, he said. Asked how the congress had calculated these percentages when the polls were contested on non-party lines, Singh said affiliations of the elected was known. The results of about 10,000 of the Panchayats have already been declared. Singh claimed Shiromani Akali Dal had finished second behind the Congress.
He said 75.23 per cent of the 1.30 crore electorate had cast their votes. Re-polling in 33 village would take place on July 13, he said adding 2,177 Panchayats which elected their leaders unanimously would be paid Rs two lakh each.

Bureau Report