Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections: Voters across Himachal Pradesh braved icy winds and stepped out to elect a new state government on Saturday. According to the Election Commission of India, 66% voter turnout was recorded in the state when polling in 68 constituencies concluded at 5 pm. EVMs and VVPATs were being sealed and secured at several polling booths. Counting of votes will take place on December 8 and results will be announced on the same day.
The state is facing a bipolar electoral battle between the incumbent Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is also in the fray as the first time entrant. Stakes are high for the BJP which is hoping to beat anti-incumbency and return to power. On the other side Congress is looking for electoral revival.
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Highest voter turn out
Of the 412 candidates in the fray this time, 24 are women.
The highest voter turnout was recorded in Chief Minister Jairam Thakur’s home turf Mandi district. Besides the CM, BJP President JP Nadda, Himachal Pradesh Congress chief Pratibha Singh, and Union Minister Anurag Thakur cast their votes in the poll.
Over 55 lakh voters were eligible to exercise their franchise in today’s polls.
BJP leader and Himachal Pradesh Assembly speaker Vipin Singh Parmar cast his vote at Sullah where his party is facing a triangular contest. Parmar was pitted against Congress’ Jagdish Sapehia and independent candidate Jagjivan Pal. He is a Congress rebel. Pal had defeated Parmar in the 2012 Assembly polls but in 2017 Parmar defeated Pal with a margin of over 10,000 votes.
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Sluggish beginning
Voting began at 8 am on a sluggish note and Election Commission officials said only four per cent polling was registered till 9 am. It picked up as the morning progressed and the winter chill eased a bit.
Highest voter turnout of 98.08% was recorded at world’s highest polling station booth in Tashigang where 51 out of 52 voters cast their vote. The lowest turnout of 46% was recorded in Chamba district till 3pm.
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