Polling for four Lok Sabha seats and six assembly by-elections began in Himachal Pradesh at 7:00 AM on Saturday. After six hours, a moderate turnout was registered in the state.
Chief Electoral Officer Manish Garg reported that polling commenced across 7,992 polling stations, including 369 classified as critical. Approximately 57.44 lakh registered voters are eligible to vote in these elections.
The world’s highest polling station, Tashigang, situated at an altitude of 15,526 feet, has 62 registered voters.
Till 1 PM the Lok Sabha elections witnessed a 48.63% turnout, while the Vidhan Sabha by-elections saw a 44.52% voter turnout. According to the Election Commission, the turnout in Shimla was 49.63%, Hamirpur 47.70%, Mandi 50.44%, and Kangra 47.08% by 1:00 PM.
In the district-wise breakdown, Lahaul Spiti recorded a 55.35% turnout, Gagret 44.63%, Sujanpur 42.03%, Kutlehar 49%, Dharamshala 41.14%, and Badsar 35%.
Chief Electoral Officer Maneesh Garg cast his vote at the Mehli-4 62/84 polling station, emphasizing the importance of participating in the democratic process. Additionally, 105-year-old Payra Singh voted at the Hatnalah polling station in Chamba district.
Notable figures who cast their votes include former Union Minister at Bharari polling station in Shimla, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and his family at Nadaun, Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri at Haroli in Una district, and former Chief Minister PK Dhumal and his Union Minister son Anurag Thakur at Sameerpur. Union Minister Shanta Kumar voted at Palampur, former Chief Minister and his family at Chichyot, Public Works Development Minister Vikramaditya Singh at Rampur, and BJP candidate and Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut at her ancestral home in Bhamla village, Sarkaghat Mandi.
In total, 37 candidates are contesting the Lok Sabha elections, including four each from BJP, Congress, and BSP. For the assembly by-elections, 25 candidates are in the fray, with six each from BJP and Congress. In all, 62 candidates are competing in the four Lok Sabha and six Vidhan sabha seats
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