Chandigarh: Braving a hostile weather, anestimated 69 per cent of 1.66 crore voters today exercised their franchise forthe fiercely-fought Punjab assembly pollswhich passed off peacefully barring minor skirmishes.

Around 54 per cent turnout was recorded for the high-profile Amritsar Lok Sabhabypoll which witnessed a no-holds-barred fight between Punjab Finance MinisterSurinder Singh and BJP's star campaigner Navjot Singh Sidhu.

Stray incidents of scuffles between activists of the ruling Congress and themain opposition Shiromani Akali Dal marked the exercise to elect 115representatives to the 117-member House.

Polling in two constituencies, Valthoa and Beas,was deferred by the Election Commission.

The Election Commission said no major incident of violence was reported fromanywhere in the state which recorded 69 per cent turnout.

The polling began on a dull note as incessant rains confined voters at home. Itpicked up as the day advanced and the weather improved.

Besides Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and SAD supremo Parkash Singh Badal, thekey contestants included state Congress chief Shamsher Singh Dullo, DeputyChief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal and former SGPC chief Bibi Jagir Kaur.