Himachal Reports Nearly 66% Voter Turnout As Polling Concludes In 68 Seats. Key Points

Although voting began at 8am on a slow pace, it picked up as the day progressed.

Voters holding their identification cards wait in a queue to cast their votes for the Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections, in Kullu ( Image Source :PTI )

New Delhi: Polling concluded in 68 constituencies across Himachal Pradesh with the hill state recording a voter turnout of 65.92 per cent till 5pm.

Although voting began at 8am on a slow pace, it picked up as the day progressed. Apart from BJP and the Congress, the Aam Aadmi Party, also trying to make inroads in Himachal Pradesh, has fielded candidates on 67 of the total 68 assembly constituencies.

Here are the key developments:

• The highest polling of 72.35 per cent was recorded in Sirmour, followed by 68.48 per cent in Solan and 67.67 per cent in Una, 67.5 per cent in Lahaul and Spiti. The high-altitude district of Lahaul and Spiti recorded 21.95 per cent, the lowest, till 1 pm.
• Among 68 assembly constituencies across the hill state, Shillai recorded the highest voter turnout of 77 per cent while Sarkaghat saw the lowest at 55.40 per cent.
• The Election Commission had set up 7,884 polling stations, including three auxiliary voting stations in far-flung areas. Out of these, 789 were vulnerable booths and 397 critical ones. The highest booth is in Tashigang, Kaza in Spiti area of Lahaul Spiti district at an altitude of 15,256 feet.
• By 3 pm, 55.65 per cent of the electorate had voted, the EC said.
• Chief Minister Jairam Thakur's Seraj constituency in Mandi district and Sujanpur recorded 74 per cent polling.
• According to Election Commission, there are over 1.21 lakh people above 80 years of age in the hill state with as many as 1,136 centenarians.
• Notably, there are 24 women candidates in the fray this time. Of the total voters, 28,54,945 are male and 27,37,845 are female.
• BJP president JP Nadda voted with his family in Bilaspur. Former Union minister Anand Sharma exercised his franchise in Shimla, while CLP leader Mukesh Agnihotri voted in Haroli from where he is contesting.