Nearly 66 vote in Himachal Pradesh as voters brave cold, snow

Shimla: Voter turnout in Himachal Pradesh was close to 66 percent on Saturday, the Election Commission said, citing provisional voting data for parliamentary elections as of 5 p.m., a key test for the BJP, which hopes to break with precedent and return to power, as well as Congress in search of electoral revival. .

People across the state from Shimla, the capital, to the snow-covered Spiegel region, voted in freezing temperatures, while those in the high mountains trekked through snow to elect a new state government.

Voting began at 8am at a slow pace, but as time passed and the sun warmed the winter chill.

During the first hour, turnout was recorded at around 5%, and by 11am it was 17.98%. By 1pm, it rose to 37.19%, and by 3pm, to 55.65%.

Turnout was 66.58% as of 5pm, according to provisional voting figures released by the Election Commission (EC).

In the 2017 parliamentary elections, the turnout was 75.57, up from 73.5% of the 2012 parliamentary vote.

The Sirmour district had the highest turnout at 72.79%, followed by Solan 68.48%, Una 68.48%, Mandi 68.03%, Lahaul and Spiti 67.5%.

The high-altitude Lahaul and Spiti recorded the lowest at 21.95 per cent until 1pm, but as the sun came out, the polls were active.

Of the 68 parliamentary constituencies in the hills, Seraj in Mandi district, where Chief Minister Jairam Thakur sits, had the highest percentage of votes at 82.22 percent, followed by Shillai with 77 percent and Sujanpur with 73.65 percent, according to the polling panel.

Provisional data showed that Baijnath and Sarkaghat recorded the lowest values ​​of 50.25% and 55.40% respectively.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Election Officer (CEO) Maneesh Garg said the final figures will be released after all voting parties have returned and a final review of the documents has been carried out.

“The voting process was peaceful and appropriate arrangements were made for it. There were no untoward incidents and the election was well received by the people. Even in areas where there was heavy snowfall, people turned out in large numbers with enthusiasm,” he told India Press Trust.

Garg said that without the active participation of the people, the efforts of the Elections Department and the EC to ensure peaceful elections could not have achieved the desired results.

He said about 130 polling stations were affected by the snow in the tribal areas of Lahaul and Spiti, Chamba and some constituencies of the Kinnaur parliamentary constituency.

Dropping temperatures and advanced age have not dampened the enthusiasm of the centenarians as many of them came out to vote, with Naro Devi, 105, in Churah in Chamba and Sardar Pyar Singh, 103, exercising her franchise in Shimla.

There are more than 121,000 people over the age of 80 in the mountainous area, including as many as 1,136 centenarians. The Election Commission has made special arrangements for seniors and people with disabilities at polling stations across the state.

Chasak Bhatpri, an 83-year-old woman, was among those who voted in the remote Bharmaur constituency of Chamba amid heavy snowfall, the committee said.

“Bharmour is the furthest point in the state, 14 kilometers from the nearest road. Despite the heavy snow, it has seen a huge response from voters,” said the Electoral Commission, sharing a photo of her in the snow.

Himachal Pradesh was home to 106-year-old Shyam Saran Negi, India’s first voter who died days later
After casting a mail-in ballot for this election.

The European Commission said more than 38,000 people over 80, people with disabilities and essential services voters voted by mail.

In an early morning message to voters, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged them to enthusiastically participate in the “Democracy Festival” and register their voting records. In a tweet, Modi also greeted young voters who will exercise their right to vote for the first time.

Echoing Modi, the chief minister said every vote will help build a prosperous Himachal Pradesh. Thakur also addressed the prime minister in another tweet and said voters were very enthusiastic.

“Of course, based on your appeal, voters in the state will set a new record by participating in voting and will create a new ‘riwaaz’ (trend). Warm greetings to you,” Thakur prayed at a temple After voting in Mandi with his wife and daughter, he spoke in Hindi.

“We have great confidence in the BJP’s big victory. We got good feedback,” he told reporters.

Enthusiastic voters backed Congress, and former party chairman Rahul Gandhi asked them to participate in large numbers to contribute to the country’s progress and a prosperous future.

“Himachal will vote for OPS (Old Pension Scheme), Himachal will vote for Jobs, Himachal will vote for ‘Har Ghar Lakshmi’,” he said in a tweet in Hindi.

The opposition Congress, desperate to retake the country from the BJP after multiple electoral defeats and losing nine states in two years, is calling on voters to pass the polls if the ruling BJP hopes to regain support behind its development agenda. A four-year tradition for an incumbent in the state.

The grand old party has made many promises including Rs 1,500 per month to all women under the “Har Ghar Lakshmi” scheme, 300 units of free electricity and 500,000 jobs over the next five years. It has also pledged a start-up fund of Rs 6.8 crore.

BJP has pledged Uniform Civil Code and 800,000 jobs in the state, besides providing scooters for college-bound girls and bicycles for underprivileged schoolgirls.

More than 5.5 million voters in the state are deciding the fate of 412 candidates in this high-stakes political battle. Among them were Vikramaditya Singh, the son of former Chief Minister Virbhadhra Singh, and Pratibha Singh, the state assembly chairperson from rural Shimla. He and his mother prayed at the Shani temple in Shimla before voting.

This time there were 24 female candidates running. Of the total electorate, 28,54,945 men and 27,37,845 women.

Former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, his son and Union Minister Anurag Thakur vote in Hamilpur. BJP President JP Nadda and his family vote in Bilaspur.

Former Union minister Anand Sharma exercised his suffrage in Shimla, while CLP leader Mukesh Agnihotri in Harrow, where he campaigned. Haroli exercised his right to vote.

Modi, who led the BJP’s campaign from the front, ended his campaign with a personal appeal to state voters, saying that every vote cast for the BJP’s emblem “Lotus” will strengthen him.

The BJP also asked voters to change the “riwaaz” by re-electing the party, saying the “twin-engine” system would continue to work for overall development.

Congress has largely backed Congress Secretary-General Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the newest member of Himachal Pradesh to contest 67 out of 68 seats, has been rather quiet as the race has become between the BJP and Congress as per past trends direct competition.

Voting begins after poll workers conduct mock walkthroughs at all polling stations to check electronic voting machines.
“Nearly 50,000 poll workers and about 25,000 security personnel were deployed,” Garg said.

The Election Commission set up 7,884 polling stations, including three auxiliary polling stations in remote areas. Among them, there are 789 vulnerable booths and 397 key booths.

The tallest booth is located in Tashgang, Kazah, Spiti area, Lahore and Spiti district, at a height of 15,256 feet. It catered to 52 voters.

A total of 157 all-female polling stations and 37 persons with disabilities (PWD) are committed to the CEO, the CEO said
polling station.

In addition, Garg said, nurseries have also been arranged in many districts such as Hamirpur, Una, Chamba and Kinnaur.