78.8% turnout in first phase of HP panchayat polls

Shimla: Himachal Pradesh recorded a voter turnout of 78.8% in the first phase of panchayat elections across 1,293 gram panchayats on Tuesday. Polling for the next two phases is scheduled for May 28 and 30, the State Election Commission said.A total of 18.2 lakh voters were eligible to vote in the first phase, with polling held from 7 am to 3 pm. Women recorded a higher turnout (82.01%) than men (75.68%). Bilaspur's 113-year-old Manglu Devi was among the notable voters. Kullu registered the highest polling at 84.43%, while Lahaul and Spiti recorded the lowest at 69.40%. Besides this, 82.57% exercised their right to franchise in Sirmaur, 81.06% in Solan, 79.95% in Shimla, 79.39% in Mandi, 80.61% in Chamba, 78.76% in Una, 77.39% in Bilaspur, 75.75% in Kangra, 73.05% in Hamirpur, 73.59% in Kinnaur. The turnout figure may rise slightly after receipt of final reports.The highest polling of around 97% was recorded in gram panchayat Kunair-Dhamoun of Tilor Dhar in Kamrau development block of Sirmaur district.Though the election in the first phase went peacefully, minor altercation cases among voters were reported from a few places. The election commission also set up an auxiliary polling station in remote gram panchayat Bara Bhangal of Baijnath development block in district Kangra, where 101 voters cast their votes.The outcome of the voting using colour-coded ballot papers for gram panchayat members, pradhan and up-pradhan was announced on Tuesday evening, while that of 250 zila parishad wards and 1,684 panchayat samiti wards will be announced on May 31 in all three phases.Discrepancies, RepollingThe election commission stated that election for the ward member post in Ward No. 3-Dila of gram panchayat Chambi in Chamba development block was cancelled due to the death of a candidate contesting the election.Polling was suspended in a ward in the Karsog sub-division of Mandi district on Tuesday after the name of a candidate contesting for the Block Development Committee (BDC) was found missing from the ballot papers.The lapse came to light when polling started in the morning at 7 am, and the candidate, Hoshiar Singh, who was among the first voters, found his name missing from the ballot paper.In Ward No. 1 Brandli-1 of gram panchayat Narain in Rampur development block of district Shimla, a NOTA stamp was used along with the Swastik symbol stamp during polling. Therefore, the election was postponed, and the commission will now conduct the election on May 30.Unopposed CandidatesA total of 10,854 candidates were elected unopposed in the ongoing panchayati raj institution elections in the state. These include 85 members of panchayat samitis, 176 gram panchayat pradhans, 286 up-pradhans and 10,307 ward members. Besides, 131 gram panchayats were also elected unanimously without any contest.As per the initial election commission notification, polling for a total of 3,754 gram panchayats in the state was to be conducted in three phases on May 26, May 28 and May 30. Elections were to be held for a total of 31,182 posts, including 21,654 gram panchayat members, 3,754 pradhans, 3,754 up-pradhans, 1,679 panchayat samiti members and 251 zila parishad members. Over 50.79 lakh voters, including more than 52,000 first-time voters, are eligible to cast their votes in the elections in all three phases. MSID:: 131331804 413 |