81% turnout recorded in final phase

SHIMLA/DHARAMSHALA: Himachal Pradesh recorded 81.10% voter turnout was recorded in the third and final phase of the Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) elections held on Thursday.

With 82.90% polling, women outnumbered men (78.90%). The balloting process started at 8am and continued till 4pm.

Covid patients and those in home quarantine cast their votes after 4pm.

State electoral officer Sanjeev Mahajan said that a total of 1,137 panchayats went to polls and 6,457 teams were deployed to conduct the final round of elections.

Maximum 264 panchayats went to polls in Kangra, 181 in Mandi and 135 in Shimla.

With 85.40% polling, Sirmaur recorded the highest voter turnout. It was followed by Solan and Kullu where an 85%, 84 % voter turnout was recorded.

Kinnaur recorded lowest turnout of 70% while election was not held in any panchayat in Lahaul-Spiti district. Seven district recorded turnout over 80% and four below 80%.

The poll process concluded peacefully. Counting of votes for the post of Pradhan, Up Pradhan and ward member will be held after polling ends and results would be declared late evening. Counting of ballots for Zila Parishad and Block Development Committees will be held on January 22.

The first phase of polling held for 1,227 panchayats on January 17 recorded a 78.4% turnout while the 80.20% voters exercised their franchise in the second round on January 19. PRI elections are not held on party symbols in the state. Himachal has 3,615 gram-panchayats.

BJP had claimed victory in over 70% panchayats in the first phase. State BJP president Suresh Kashyap had claimed that BJP won 904 out of 1,228 panchayats in first round and more than 800 panchayats in second round.