Sixty-five percent of 16 million Punjabi voters turned out under a blanket of security to choose from 1,050 contestants vying for 117 seats in the state legislature, national election commission officials said.

"The polling was largely peaceful," India's deputy election commissioner R. Bhattacharya said in New Delhi as the eight-hour voting ended at 5:00 pm (1130 GMT).

Some 50 people were briefly detained by the police for trying to disrupt the balloting, one of a series of tough mid-term tests for the Congress, which also governs Punjab.

Analysts said the heavy turnout could upset hopes of the Congress for winning at least 77 constituencies in the Indian breadbasket state, which borders Pakistan.

"This huge turnout is a sign of anti-incumbency sentiments, and the opposition combo of the Akali Dal (regional Sikh Party) and BJP (Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party) will benefit," political analyst Anand Ojha said.

Candidates waged fierce campaigns in the leadup to the polls for the state assembly, some even roping in bar dancers to lure voters.

The Punjab polls will be followed by votes on Wednesday and February 23, in Manipur in the northeast and Uttarakhand in the north.

The Congress party -- headed by Italian-born Sonia Gandhi -- currently administers all three states.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said he was confident he would be returned to office for a second successive five-year term, despite recent history being against him.

According to government records, no ruling party in Punjab has been re-elected to office since 1972.

"There is always a first time to be re-elected. Our government's good work and report card is in front of the people. I am confident we will come back," Singh said before voting ended.

As part of pre-polling campaigns, bar dancers cast out from western Maharashtra state last year were recruited in hordes by Punjab hopefuls to draw potential voters to rallies, witnesses said.

Among those standing are 45 millionaires, and topping the list is Akali Dal candidate Jagir Kaur, with declared assets equivalent to 20 million dollars.

Former cricketer turned celebrity commentator Navjot Singh Sidhu was also trying to win back the seat he resigned from after his December conviction for beating a man to death in a fit of road rage.

Defeat in the polls would deal a major blow to the Congress and could mark the resurgence of the BJP.

But none of the assembly polls have a direct bearing on the national parliament and the Congress-led federal government.

Congress wrested power in Punjab in 2002, following a bitterly fought electoral battle with the then ruling combination of the Akali Dal and BJP.

Vote counts in the three states -- Punjab, Uttarakhand and Manipur -- will begin on February 27.

After that, all eyes will be on pivotal Uttar Pradesh, India's most populous state, which is currently held by a regional opposition party and goes to the polls at the end of May.