The politically influential Dera Sacha Sauda has hedged its bets on the Punjab assembly polls Monday, asking followers to collectively vote for candidates they deem "good and clean".

Punjab and Uttarakhand go to polls today to elect new assemblies with the Congress hoping to oust the Akali Dal-BJP combine in the country's grain bowl and the BJP in the hill state. Going to polls today | Punjab mandate 2012 | Pawar's remark on Rahul objectionable: Digvijaya

Around 1.76 crore voters will seal the fate of 1,078 candidates, including the two chief ministerial aspirants Parkash Singh Badal of ruling SAD-BJP and Amarinder Singh of opposition Congress, in fray for 117 assembly seats in Punjab where polling will take place on Monday amidst tight security.

SAD-BJP, Congress hold rallies on chief minister Parkash Singh Badal’s home turf on last day of campaigning; alliance will win 120 seats out of 117, quips deputy CM Sukhbir; Amarinder gives clarion call to oust Badals, bring Congress back to power. Manpreet Randhawa reports.

Rahul Gandhi's 'surprise' announcement about Captain Amarinder Singh as CM candidate is perhaps not much of a surprise after all. Aurangzeb Naqshbandi reports.

In the native village of Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal, there is an old-age home run by the Badals under the Ch Devi Lal Trust. It paints a pretty picture; only it's not representative of the village itself. Prabhjit Singh reports.

With the Punjab assembly election heading for a tight finish, top leaders of the ruling Akali-BJP combine and contender Congress are focusing on election management to cut down rebel activity, smaller parties and religious sects which may turn out to be spoilers. Shishir Gupta reports.

By declaring Amarinder Singh as his party's CM candidate five days ahead of the Punjab polls on Wednesday, Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi not only reversed party tradition, but also gave credence to the growing impression that he is the new power centre in the party. Pankaj Vohra reports. Amarinder to be CM if Cong comes to power: Rahul

BJP leader Arun Jaitley today accused the Congress-led UPA of being behind the last-minute disruption of author Salman Rushdie's video address at Jaipur Literature Festival to garner Muslim votes in the five poll-bound states. No role in cancelletion of Rushdie video link: Cong | Rushdie is 'poor', 'sub-standard' writer: Katju

Candidates contesting assembly polls have become richer in the last five years with their assets growing manifold. Leading the list of highest jump in assets (percentage-wise) among contestants is Congress candidate from Bholath constituency Sukhpal Singh Khaira.

This is a high-profile triangular contest featuring blood relations. While Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and People's Party of Punjab nominee Gurdas Singh Badal are brothers, the Congress has fielded their cousin, Mahesh Inder Singh Badal.

Political analysts would be hard pressed to explain a record turnout for what was billed as a “no-wave” election” in Punjab. Punjab mandate 2012 | Wild cards make it too close to call in Punjab | Congress expects sweeping win

Accusing the SAD-BJP government in Punjab of misrule, corruption and financial irregularities, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday said on central funds running into hundreds of crores given to the state were not appropriately utilised.

Withdraw from contest or face expulsion, warns Amarinder; Khanna rebel Bhalinder shown the door. Anshu Seth reports.