Himachal Pradesh's ruling BJP will hope to end Congress' 26-year control of the city civic body when 82,000 people are expected to exercise their franchise in Shimla municipal corporation (SMC) polls on Sunday.
The fate of 95 candidates, including seven for the post of mayor, five for deputy mayor and 83 for 25 wards, would be sealed in EVMs on Sunday. There are 43 women candidates in the fray.
The counting of votes would be held on Monday. The election of mayor and deputy mayor would be held through direct vote for the first time.
There is a virtual direct contest among Madhu Sood, SS Minhas (BJP) and Sanjay Chauhan(CPI-M) for the post of mayor while Digvijay Singh Chauhan (BJP), Devinder Chauhan (Congress) and Tikender Singh Panwar(CPI-M) are fighting it out for deputy mayorship.
Two women, including mayor Madhu Sood of Congress, and one woman for the deputy mayor post are also in the fray.
Though 13 out of 25 seats have been reserved for women, the number of women voters is about 37,000 against 43,500 male voters.
{{/usCountry}}Though 13 out of 25 seats have been reserved for women, the number of women voters is about 37,000 against 43,500 male voters.
{{/usCountry}}There is a direct fight in two wards reserved for women while two other wards have maximum number of five candidates. The contest is triangular in 16 wards and four-cornered in remaining five wards.
The Congress is in control of SMC ever since the democratic body was restored in 1986 and had won all five elections held so far.