80% turnout in HP

: Around 80% voter turnout was recorded in the second phase of the Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) elections in Himachal on Tuesday.

With 84.60% polling, Kullu recorded the highest voter turnout. It was followed by Solan and Sirmaur where an 83.60%, 82.70% voter turnout was recorded, said state electoral officer Sanjeev Mahajan. Polling is underway for 1,208 panchayats in the state.

Lahaul-Spiti recorded the lowest turnout of 63.80%. Kinnaur reported a marginally better voter turnout at 69.50%. Seven of 12 districts recorded over 80% polling while three districts logged over 75% polling.

Women outnumber men

With 81.60% polling, women outnumbered men (78.40%).

The balloting process started at 8am and continued till 4pm. Covid patients and those in home quarantine cast their votes after 4pm.

A total 7,160 polling parties were deployed in the second phase of the elections.

Voting was slow in the initial hours but picked up as the day progressed.

Results for members of Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti will be declared on January 22. In the third and final phase, 1,137 will go to polls on January 21.

The first phase of polling held for 1,227 panchayats on January 17 recorded a 78.4% turnout. 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.

BJP national president Jagat Prakash Nadda cast his vote in his home panchayat Vijaypur Panchayat in Bilaspur district along with his wife Mallika Nadda and brother professor Jagat Bhushan Nadda. The Vijaypur panchayat was elected unanimously. Polling was held for block Development Council (BDC) and Zila Parishad.

First meet on January 27

Meanwhile, rural development and panchayati Raj minister Virender Kanwar said the first meeting of the newly constituted gram panchayats, BDC, and zila parishads of the state will be held on January 27.

He said that the sub- divisional magistrates will administer the oaths to pradhans and uppradhans, instead of the CM, in wake of the pandemic.

Kanwar said that the panchayat pradhans will administer the oath to the ward members at the meeting, besides holding discussions on local matters.

DEEPAK SANSTA / HT Women showing their inked fingers after voting during the second phase of the panchayat elections at Deorighat panchayat in Theog, Shimla, on Tuesday.