Shimla , May 26
Voting for the first phase of the three-tier Panchayati Raj elections began across Himachal Pradesh on Tuesday with enthusiastic participation from rural voters despite the prevailing heatwave conditions. Polling is underway in 1,258 Gram Panchayats across the state, where voters started arriving at polling stations early in the morning to avoid the scorching afternoon temperatures.
The polling, which commenced at 7 am, will continue till 3 pm. Election authorities curtailed evening polling hours considering the severe heatwave sweeping several districts of the state.
One of the most inspiring moments of the election was witnessed at Jekhri polling booth under Gram Panchayat Syri in Mamligh area of Solan district, where 93-year-old Smt. Gauri Sharma exercised her franchise, reflecting the democratic spirit prevailing in rural Himachal.
The State Election Commission has made elaborate arrangements for the smooth conduct of polling. More than 6,500 polling parties were dispatched to polling stations across the state, while nearly 450 polling parties had already left for remote and inaccessible areas a day earlier.
Polling parties carrying ballot boxes and election material were transported mainly through Himachal Road Transport Corporation buses. Officials confirmed that all polling stations had been fully prepared before the commencement of voting.
After the completion of polling, counting for the posts of Pradhan, Up-Pradhan and Ward Members will be conducted at Panchayat Bhawans concerned. However, ballot boxes for Block Development Committee (BDC) and Zila Parishad elections will be sealed and stored in strong rooms, as their counting is scheduled for May 31.
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The Election Commission has used different coloured ballot papers for various posts to facilitate smooth polling. White ballot papers are being used for Ward Members, yellow for Up-Pradhans, light green for Pradhans, pink for Panchayat Samiti members and blue for Zila Parishad members.
The Panchayat elections in the state are being conducted in three phases. Voting in 1,258 Panchayats is being held on May 26, while polling in another 1,170 Panchayats will take place on May 28. The entire election process will conclude with the counting of BDC and Zila Parishad votes on May 31.
A total of 131 Panchayats in the state have already been elected unopposed, where Pradhans, Up-Pradhans and Ward Members were chosen unanimously.
In the current elections, the state will elect 3,754 Pradhans, 3,754 Deputy Pradhans, 21,654 Ward Members, 1,769 BDC members and 251 Zila Parishad members, taking the total number of elected public representatives to 31,182.
The Election Commission has established 21,678 polling stations across Himachal Pradesh for the exercise. Around 50.80 lakh voters are eligible to cast their votes in the rural polls, including 25,67,770 male voters, 25,11,249 female voters and 29 voters from the third gender category.
The Panchayat elections are considered politically significant in Himachal Pradesh as they shape the grassroots governance structure and often reflect the political mood in rural areas ahead of larger electoral battles.
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