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Heavy turnout of voters for H.P. polls

SHIMLA: The second and final phase of polling in Himachal Pradesh for 65 State Assembly seats on Wednesday witnessed a heavy turnout of voters in constituencies across the lower areas of the hill State and moderate polling in the upper regions.

The final percentage of polling was put out by the State’s Chief Electoral Officer, Manisha Nanda, here on Thursday.

She said 72.65 per cent of the voters in the State exercised their franchise and no untoward incident was reported from anywhere.

“We could compile the final figures by Thursday evening only since the polling parties from far-flung areas could not reach the block and district headquarters on Wednesday,” she said.

The electronic voting machines from areas like Dodra Kawar and Kashapatt in Rohru and some interior areas of Chopal constituency were airlifted on Thursday, said the District Magistrate of Shimla, Tarun Kapoor.

Despite clear and warm weather on polling day, the voter turnout was very slow in the morning and a low percentage was expected.

The polling was around 74 per cent in the last Assembly elections. In the lower hills of the State it was again more than 75 per cent this time also.

Polling touched almost 70 per cent in Hamirpur and 74 per cent in Chamba districts including the constituency of BJP leader Prem Kumar Dhumal.

The polling average was just 60 per cent in Shimla district and 59 per cent in Chief

Minister Virbhadra Singh’s constituency, Rohru.

Mr. Virbhadra Singh cast his vote in Rampur constituency along with his wife Pratibha Singh, Member of Parliment.

The polling was lowest here in the State capital, Shimla, at just 47 per cent. A very keen triangular contest and a close finish among the CPI (M), the BJP and the Congress is expected here.

The percentage was high in Sirmaur district also this time. Pachhad, the constituency of Himachal Assembly Speaker Gangu Ram Musafir, registered an 80 per cent turnout of voters.

The polling in Solan was around 74 per cent, said the District Magistrate, Mohan Chauhan.

It was 74 per cent in Kullu, 73 per cent in Kangra and 75 per cent in Mandi, said officials.

In the first phase of elections held earlier for the three tribal seats of Kinnaur, Lahul Spiti and Bharmaur the polling was 72 per cent.

The Election Commission had deployed over 40,000 security personnel at 5,946 polling

stations in 10 districts of the hill State.

Nearly 44,179,000 voters, including 2,189,850 women, exercised their right to franchise in the second phase for the 335 candidates who are in fray for the 65 seats at stake, said officials.

Seven voters above the age of 99 years exercised their voting right in Ghumarwin constituency of Bilaspur.

The Election Commission had established an exclusive booth for women in Solan and a special booth for 13 leprosy patients in Kasauli constituency, out of whom 11 turned up to vote.

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Heavy turnout of voters for H.P. polls

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