HIMACHAL VOTES TODAY TO PICK 68 MLAS IN STATE

SHIMLA: Over 5.5 million voters will decide the fate of 412 candidates in the fray for 68 assembly constituencies in Himachal Pradesh, where polling will be held in a single phase on Saturday.

The voting is scheduled from 8am to 5pm across 7,884 polling stations, including 7,235 in rural areas and 646 in urban pockets of the state. Counting of votes will be held on December 8.

Of the total 412 candidates in the fray, only 24 are women. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress have fielded candidates in all 68 seats, while the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is contesting 67 seats and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) 53. A total of 99 independent candidates are also in the poll fray.