Voting for Himachal elections ends, 72% turnout recorded: EC
SHIMLA/DHARAMSHALA: Voting across 68 constituencies in Himachal Pradesh concluded on Saturday, marking the end of an assembly election where the state’s political tradition of voting out the incumbent is at stake.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) pegged the provisional turnout at 72% in a statement at 11pm. Provisional figures usually get revised upwards the next day but typically not by much. In the 2017 assembly elections, the polling percentage was 75.57%.
The results of the election will be announced on December 8, along with Gujarat.
Himachal Pradesh was home to 105-year-old Shyam Saran Negi, India’s first voter, who died a few days ago after casting his postal ballot for this election.
A total of 412 candidates are in the fray. According to EC data, a total of 5,592,828 voters, including 2,854,945 male and 2,737,845 female, were eligible to exercise their franchise in the polls.
Himachal Pradesh chief electoral officer (CEO) Maneesh Garg said: “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.”
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is hoping to secure a second consecutive victory in the state where the two national parties have usually swapped power every five years. In the campaign, it banked on the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, its development agenda and the promise of more projects being unlocked by a double-engine government (the BJP being in power both at the Centre and in the state). In 2017, it received 44 of the 68 seats and 48.8% of the vote share.
State urban development min
Suresh Bhardwaj exercised his franchise in Chotta Shimla. “Voting is brisk in the rural areas but it’s slow in the cities. Shimla has a trend where voting picks up slowly,” Bhardwaj said after casting his vote.
The Congress is hoping that its relatively more muted campaign will be able to exploit grassroots discontent with local leaders and anti-incumbency against the state government. In its campaign, it focussed on 10 guarantees by promising the restoration of the old pension scheme, 500,000 jobs and ₹1,500 a month to women.
“Public power will win over the money power this time. Election results will further set the course of future national politics.
We will form the government,” said state Congress chief Pratibha Singh.
Aside from the two major parties, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is also contesting 67 seats. It launched its campaign in April after the landslide victory in Punjab with the promise of several freebies.
State AAP chief Surjeet Singh was confident of an electoral vicister tory. “We are geared up to play a significant role in the state of Himachal Pradesh. The results will be surprising for everyone. We will continue our fight to bring change in people’s life,” he said.
Others in the fray include the Mayawati-led Bahujan Samajwadi Party and the Left parties along with several state parties. There are also 99 Independent candidates in the fray.
The main issues that influenced the electorate this time appeared to be anger among apple growers, a major employer in the hill state, and demand for more government employment. In the lower region farming, government jobs and army services were the key focal points this time.
Chief minister Jai Ram Thakur and Pratibha Singh were among the early voters who exercised their franchise as polling began at 7am on Saturday.
“Confident that people will repeat the BJP government. I received a message from Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the morning. Confident of a great win, feedback is great,” the CM said after voting.
BJP national president J P Nadda cast his vote in his village Vijaypur in Bilaspur district.
Election ’22 himachal pradesh