Shimla, Jan 10
Himachal Pradesh registered heavy turn out in urban local bodies poll in the state despite Covid protocol in place, stated Election Commission said.
The polling was held first time during the Covid pandemic for municipal councils and nagar panchayats in Himachal Pradesh on Sunday.
State Election Commission said
more than 3.10 lakh voters were registered, out of which around 73 percent voters cast their votes. More than 70 Covid-19 patients and persons in isolation cast their votes as per standard operating procedure.
The State Election Commission has said polling for all Urban Local Bodies election in the state concluded peacefully. Elections were scheduled for 263 members of 29 Municipal Councils and 153 members of 21 Nagar Panchayats. 13 members were elected unopposed. Nomination papers were not filed in ward number 9 of Municipal Council Ner Chowk and ward number 7 of Nagar Panchayat Karsog of District Mandi.He said that polling was held for the election of 401 members.
It was for the first time that all the election related procedures and results have also been uploaded by the Commission on sechimachal.nic.in web portal.
Commission thanked the voters and officials for conducting smooth and peaceful elections.
An hour before winding up, Una district registered highest voter turnout of 73.40 pc , followed by Bilaspur-70.20 p c, Hamirpur -69.80 p c , Chamba 69.60 p c and Kangra–69.50 p c . The least turnout was recorded in Mandi-55.80 p c and Solan-56.60 p c districts.
Under safety protocol, Covid patients and people under quarantine also reached polling stations and voted, as sixteen such votes were cast in Mandi, 15 in Una and 10 in Bilaspur.
Polling was held from 0800 to 1600 hrs, and counting was underway at the municipal headquarters at the time of filing of this report. The results are to be declared immediately after the counting of votes.
A total of 1,185 candidates contested the elections, with Kangra district having the highest number of wards and candidates. Polling was not held in some wards where the candidates were elected unopposed.
Elections to the five municipal corporations in the state would be held later and elections to most panchayati raj institutions in the state are scheduled to be held in three phases beginning next Sunday. It is pertinent to mention, Municipal and panchayat elections in Himachal Pradesh are not held on party symbols.
As many as 1.97 lakh citizens who were eligbile for the election cast their votes for 401 ward members in 29 municipal councils and 21 nagar panchayats of the state (six new nagar panchayats not included in the polling process).
Una district registered highest voter turnout of 73.40 pc , followed by Bilaspur-70.20 p c, Hamirpur -69.80 p c , Chamba 69.60 p c and Kangra – 69.50 p c . The least turnout was recorded in Mandi 55.80 p c and Solan -56.60 p c districts.
Under safety protocol, Covid patients and people under quarantine also reached polling stations and voted, as sixteen such votes were cast in Mandi, 15 in Una and 10 in Bilaspur.
Polling was held from 0800 to 1600 hrs, and counting was underway at the municipal headquarters at the time of filing of this report. The results are to be declared immediately after the counting of votes.
A total of 1,185 candidates contested the elections, with Kangra district having the highest number of wards and candidates. Polling was not held in some wards where the candidates were elected unopposed.
Elections to the five municipal corporations in the state would be held later and elections to most panchayati raj institutions in the state
are scheduled to be held in three phases beginning next Sunday. Pertinent to mention Municipal and panchayat elections in Himachal are not held on party symbols.
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