Himachal Pradesh elections: 66% turn out to seal fates of 412 in fray

Polling began at 8 am on a slow note but picked up as the day progressed and the sun warmed the winter chill. In the first hour, around five per cent turnout was recorded, while by 11 am, it was 17.98 per cent. It notched up to 37.19 per cent by 1 pm and 55.65 per cent till 3 pm.

Till 5 pm, a 66.58 per cent turnout was recorded, according to provisional polling data released by the Election Commission (EC).

“The final figures will be known after the return of all poll parties and final scrutiny of the documents,” the EC said.

The highest polling station, Tashgeng in Lahaul and Spiti, reported 100% voting. All 52 voters cast their vote, poll officials said. The station is located at a height of more than 15,000 ft. At the station, poll officials were seen wearing traditional dresses and the voters were welcomed with desserts and local cuisine.

The poll panel’s data showed that among the 68 assembly constituencies, Seraj in Mandi district from where Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur is contesting had the highest polling percentage of 82.22, followed by Shillai (77), and Sujanpur (73.65). Baijnath and Sarkaghat recorded 50.25 per cent, the lowest, and 55.40 per cent, respectively.

Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Maneesh Garg said the final figures will be known after all poll parties return and final scrutiny of documents. “The polling process was peaceful and proper arrangements were made for the same. There was no untoward incident, and elections saw a very good response from the people. Even in snowbound areas people came out in large numbers with full zeal and enthusiasm,” he said.

Around 130 polling booths in tribal areas of Lahaul and Spiti, Chamba and a few in Kinnaur were affected by snowfall.
More than 38,000 people above 80 years of age, persons with disabilities and essential service voters have cast their vote through postal ballot, the EC said.

A voter shows her finger marked with indelible ink after casting her vote for Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections, in Kullu, Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022. (PTI Photo)

In an early morning message to voters, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged them to enthusiastically participate in the “festival of democracy” and register a voting record. In a tweet, Modi also greeted young voters who will be exercising their franchise for the first time.

The CM addressed the PM in a tweet. “Voters in the state will create a new record by participating in the polling and are going to create a new ‘riwaaz’ (trend). Warm greetings to you,” Thakur, who voted in Mandi with his wife and daughters after offering prayers at a temple, said in Hindi.

“We are confident of the BJP’s grand victory. We are getting good feedback,” he told reporters.

Enthusing voters to back the Congress, former party president Rahul Gandhi said, “Himachal will vote for OPS (old pension scheme), Himachal will vote for employment, Himachal will vote for ‘Har Ghar Lakshmi’”.

More than 55 lakh voters in the state are deciding the fate of 412 candidates in this high stakes political battle. Twenty-four women candidates are in the fray this time. Of the total voters, 28,54,945 are male and 27,37,845 female. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which is the new entrant in Himachal and is contesting in 67 of 68 seats, has been fairly quiet as the contest shaped up as a direct one between the BJP and the Congress in line with past trends.

“Nearly 50,000 polling staff and around 25,000 security staff were deployed,” Garg said. The EC set up 7,884 polling stations, including three auxiliary voting stations in far flung areas. Of these, 789 were vulnerable booths and 397 critical ones.

The CEO said a total of 157 all-women polling stations and 37 persons