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Himachal Pradesh election 2022 highlights: Polling concludes, 66% turnout till 5pm
Himachal Pradesh Election 2022: The counting of votes will be held on December 8 and results will be declared the same day.
On Saturday, Himachal Pradesh voted for the crucial assembly elections to elect the next government of the hill state. More than 5 million voters were eligible to decide the fate of various political parties, which fielded 412 candidates for 68 assembly constituencies in the single-phase polls. The voting began at 8am, and was held at 7,884 polling stations spread across Himachal Pradesh. Of these, 7,235 stations are in rural regions while 646 are in urban pockets of the northern state. Additionally, as many as three auxiliary polling stations were set up in far flung areas of the hill state by the Election Commission of India (ECI)....Read More
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is aiming to retain power in the hill state, and break the tradition of alternative governments noticed since 1982. The Congress is relying on its ‘10 guarantees’ that it has promised in its poll manifesto. These include revival of old pension scheme, the state's women receiving a monthly compensation of ₹1,500, free electricity up to 300 units, free medical treatment in every village through mobile clinics and employment opportunities for 5 lakh youth, among others.
Arvind Kejriwal-headed Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is also in the race, striving to make inroads into Himachal Pradesh.
The BJP had whitewashed the 2017 elections, winning 44 of the 68 seats while Congress managed to bag only 21.
The counting of votes and declaration of results will take place on December 8.
Polling concludes in hill state
Voting for single-phase assembly election in Gujarat concludes, votes for all 68 seats to be counted on December 8.
'Polling underway, total 74% turnout expected'
Polling is still underway, around 66% turnout was recorded. It can be around 74% by the end. 100% polling in Tashigang, Himachal Pradesh: Mahesh Pathania, Joint Director Media, Office of CEO, Himachal Pradesh
Till 5pm, 66% voters exercised their right to vote: ECI
Till 5pm, 65.92% voter turnout recorded, says Election Commission of India.
98% voter turnout in world's ‘highest polling booth’
51 out of 52 voters voted in the world's ‘highest polling booth’ at Tashigang; overall turnout 55% till 3pm.
83-year-old woman travels 14 km to cast vote
Dolma, the voter, cast her vote at Chasak Bhatori polling station in Pangi area of Chamba district after travelling 14 kilometers by walking on a snow-bound road.
No exit polls before 5pm on December 5
Though the polling will conclude today itself, exit polls will not be allowed till 5pm on December 5, when the 2-phase polling ends in Gujarat. The ban, announced by the ECI, came into effect at 8am today and is applicable for the Gujarat polls as well.
37.19% voter turnout recorded till 1 pm
Till 1pm in Himachal Pradesh, 37.19 per cent of voter turnout has been recorded.
105-year-old Naro Devi casts her vote
A 105-year-old woman named Naro Devi cast her voted today in Churah assembly constituency of Chamba district.
17.98% voter turnout recorded till 11 am
A voter turnout of 17.98 per cent has been recorded till 11am in Himachal Pradesh as per latest data from the ECI. The polling started at 8am and will continue till 5pm.
BJP chief JP Nadda, his wife cast votes in Bilaspur
Himachal Pradesh's native and BJP chief JP Nadda along with his wife Mallika Nadda cast their votes at a polling station in Vijaypur, Bilaspur, on Saturday.
Anurag Thakur, his father and ex-CM Prem Kumar Dhumal, cast votes
Union minister Anurag Thakur and his family, including father and former Himachal Pradesh CM Prem Kumar Dhumal, cast their votes in Samirpur, Hamipur.
‘Confident of winning 40-45 seats’: Himachal's Cong chief after casting vote with son in Shimla
Himachal Pradesh's Congress chief Pratibha Singh cast her vote along with her son and party MLA Vikramaditya Singh in Shimla. She told reporters later that her party has “always worked for development” and that she is “confident of winning 40-45 seats”.
Polling officials brave snow to reach booths in Kangra, Chamba
Polling officials braved deep snow in Himachal Pradesh to reach the booths in Kangra and Chamba district for the assembly election in the northern hill state today.
‘Confident of grand win’: CM Thakur, his family casts vote
Himachal Pradesh CM Jairam Thakur cast his votes along with his family at the Seraj assembly constituency. Later, he told reporters that he is “confident” of the BJP registering a “grand” victory.
‘Pehle matdaan, phir jalpaan’: CM Thakur to Himachal voters
Himachal Pradesh CM Jairam Thakur on Saturday urged citizens of his state to “participate in this great festival of democracy (voting) with full enthusiasm”. He appealed to them to vote in “huge numbers”, stressing that “one vote will create a prosperous Himachal”.
Amit Shah urges ‘mothers, sisters and youth’ to vote in max number
After PM Modi, Union home minister Amit Shah appeals to all voters of Himachal Pradesh, especially “mothers, sisters and youth” to cast their franchise in today's polls. He also urged them to “elect a strong government by voting in maximum numbers for the golden tomorrow of the state,” as his tweet on Saturday, roughly translated from Hindi, read.
Voting for 68 constituencies begins
Voting for 68 assembly constituencies in high-stakes contest has commenced and will continue will 5pm. As many as 412 candidates' fate will be sealed in the process.
‘Request voters…to participate with full enthusiasm’: PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday urged all voters of Himachal Pradesh to participate in the polling process with “full enthusiasm in this festival of democracy and create a new record of voting”.
Mock polling process ongoing in Himachal before voting starts at 8am
Mock polling process is currently underway in the northern hill state before electors start voting from 8am until 5pm.
Preparations underway for polling
Latest visuals from a booth in Himachal Pradesh's Hamirpur shared by news agency ANI show preparations in full swing for today's polling.
412 candidates in the fray
As many as 412 candidates are in the fray for today's key Himachal Pradesh assembly elections.