Polling begins for HP assembly

Shimla, November 12

Polling begun for Himachal Pradesh assembly, at 8 am on Saturday to decide fate of 412 candidate in a single phase in 68 constituencies, informed  Election Commission of India. Chief Electrol Officer Manish Garg said that polling has begun in total 7881 polling stations. He said that polling began normally baring minor incidents of EVM snags.

He said that ECI has declared 981 critical polling stations manned by three layers of security including Central Paramilitary Forces, local police and home gaurd jawans beside this 901 polling stations are declared  vulnerable and 6599 are ordinary polling booths.

In the vulnerable polling stations voting is being held under scanner of CCTV camera.  142 women polling booths were declared all women where only women police personnel have been deployed for duty, as per the instructions of the Election Commission of India. 232 Flying Squads, new 232 Static Surveillance teams have been formed in the state.  108 barriers and entry points along the border with neighboring states have been sealed and police force has been deployed at all these places.

Apart from this, CCTV cameras have been installed at these 108 entry points on interstate borders, through which the movement of people and vehicles is being monitored. 67 companies of Central Armed Police Forces, State Armed Police Forces have been deployed to conduct peaceful elections in the state.  Apart from this, 11847 police personnel of the State Police have also been deployed for election duty.  Also 8381 Home Guard volunteers have also been deployed in the state for election related duties.  Out of 8381 Home Guard volunteers, 4500 are from Himachal Pradesh State while 2500 are from Uttarakhand State and 1381 are from Uttar Pradesh.

Polling excercise began half an hour before polling at 7.30 am as mock polling was held to test EVMs in presence of agents of all parties.

Out of 412 candidates in the fray for upcoming assembly elections in the State, 24 are females, while 388 are male candidates.

Total 55,92,828 voters of the state will elect their representatives among these candidates. Of the total voters, 28,54,945 are male electors, 27,37,845 female and 38 third gender voters. 1,93,106 new voters in the age group of 18-19 years have been added. There were 1,21,409 voters above 80 years, while 56,501 were in PwD category.

The Bharatiya Janata Party and Indian National Congress were contesting on all the 68 assembly constituencies, while Aam Aadmi Party on 67 ACs. Similarly, Bahujan Samajwadi Party on 53, Rashtriya Devbhoomi Party on 29, Communist Party of India(Marxist) 11, Himachal Jan Kranti Party 6, Hindu Samaj Party and Swabhiman Party 3-3 and one each from Himachal Janata Party, Bhartiya Veer Dal, Sainik Samaj Party ,Rashtriya Lok Niti Party and Communist Party of India.

The number of independent candidates are 99.

The maximum number of 11 candidates in fray are from Jogindernagar assembly constituency, while the minimum number of three candidates each were in Churah assembly constituency of Chamba district, Lahaul-Spiti AC and Drang assembly constituency of Mandi district.

The youngest candidate Piyush Kanga (26) is contesting from Bilaspur assembly constituency as an Independent. The others are Chaitanya (28) of Congress party from Gagret assembly constituency, Aam Aadmi Party candidate Jabna (29) from Nachan assembly constituency, Himachal Jan Kranti Party from Bharmour assembly constituency. Ki Pooja (29) Manisha (30) of Aam Aadmi Party from Nurpur assembly constituency, Kishori Lal (31) of CPI (M) from Karsog assembly constituency, Vikramaditya Singh (33) of Congress party from Shimla Rural assembly constituency and BJP candidate from Karsog assembly constituency Deep Raj (34).

Among the elder candidates, Col. Dhani Ram Shandil (82) of Congress from Solan Assembly Constituency, Chandra Kumar (78), Congress candidate from Jawali Assembly Constituency, Gangu Ram Musafir (77), Independent candidate from Pachhad Assembly Constituency, Kaul Singh Thakur of Congress from Drang Assembly Constituency (76), Thakur Singh Bharmouri (75) of Congress from Bharmour assembly constituency and Kishori Lal (75) of Congress from Baijnath assembly constituency are in the fray. Polling would last till 5 pm .