Chandigarh (PTI): Elections to panchayat institutions in Punjab, seen as a litmus test for ruling Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal, began this morning.

This is the first election the SAD is facing after Sukhbir took over the party reins from his father and Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal early this year.

Twenty Zila Parishads and 141 Panchayat Samitis are going to polls in this northern state where about 1.51 crore voters are eligible to exercise their franchise.

The SAD and BJP are pitted against each other in almost half of the Zila Parishads and Panchayat Samities after the two parties failed to arrive at a consensus on seat-sharing for the panchayat polls.

The BJP, know for its urban base in the state, which has fielded its candidates in 54 Zila Parishad and 380 panchayat samities seats, will face its ally in majority of seats in Malwa belt.

While the saffron party considers its fight against its ally as a "contest", Sukhbir has tried to down play by calling it a "friendly match" between the two allies in some places.

The elections, which is seen as a referendum on the performance of the SAD-BJP government, is contested on party symbols by all major parties - SAD, BJP and Congress.

Main Opposition Congress, which will try hard to put a fight against SAD-BJP combine, is ridden with factionalism.