People show their voter's identity cards as they wait in a queue to cast their votes for assembly polls at a polling station in Theog, 40 km from Shimla on Thursday. PTI New Delhi: Himachal Pradesh on Thursday recorded its highest polling in assembly elections with 74 per cent of voters exercising their franchise, the election commission said.
The figure was till 5 pm and the final polling percentage may be revised as the figures are yet to be tallied.
Polling was still on in about 500 booths.
The previous highest polling percentage of 73.5 was recorded in the 2012 assembly polls, deputy election commissioner Sandeep Saxena said. In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, it was 64.45 per cent.
Himachal Pradesh chief minister Virbhadra Singh with wife Partibha Singh and son Vikrmaditya Singh showing their inked finger after they cast their vote at a polling booth in Rampur on Thursday. PTI At a press conference, Saxena said the elections were peaceful and no incident of violence was reported.
A total of 11,283 VVPAT units were used in all polling booths of the 68 constituencies out of which 297 were replaced, Saxena said, adding this was well within the technical limits.
An elderly voter displays his finger marked with indelible ink after casting vote for assembly polls, at a polling station in Theog, 40 km from Shimla on Thursday. PTI The Congress is currently ruling the hill state and the BJP is eying to return to power after a gap of five years.
In the outgoing 68-member assembly, the Congress and the BJP have 35 and 28 MLAs respectively. There are four Independent MLAs while one seat was vacant. The poll results will be announced on December 18.
Chief minister Virbhadra Singh and former chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal cast their votes at Rampur and Samirpur respectively.
Shyam Sharan Negi (101), the first voter of India, cast his vote for the 15th time in assembly polls at Kalpa in Kinnaur district.
The ruling Congress led by the chief minister and the BJP led with former chief minister Dhumal are contesting all 68 seats while theBSP is contesting 42 seats, followed by the CPI(M) 14, Swabhiman Party and Lok Gathbandhan Party six each and the CPI three.
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