Prime Minister Narendre Modi on Saturday urged the people of Punjab and Goa to go out and vote.

"Urging people of Punjab & Goa to turnout in record numbers & vote in the Assembly elections. I particularly urge my young friends to vote," Modi tweeted.

Where Goa began voting for 40 assembly constituencies at 7 a.m., Punjab began voting for all 117 assembly constituencies in the state at 8 a.m.

A total of 251 candidates are contesting in Goa and 1,145 candidates, including 81 women and a lone transgender candidate, are contesting in Punjab. 

There are 22,614 polling stations in Punjab and 1,642 polling stations across Goa. The counting of votes will take place on March 11.