Himachal Deputy Election Commissioner Sandeep Saxena said on Thursday that the Assembly elections were peaceful and no incidents of violence were reported. A total of 11,283 VVPAT units were used in all polling booths of the 68 constituencies out of which 297 were replaced, he said, adding this was well within the technical limits.
Voting in some booths of Bilaspur Sadar, Naina Devi and Rekong Peo was disrupted when the button against the name of a particular candidate did not respond and record the voter’s choice. Supporters of the candidate protested the glitch which was later rectified.
Shyam Saran Negi, the well-known first voter of the country, cast his vote in Kinnaur. A red carpet welcome was laid for the centenarian at the polling booth and he was escorted by the DM of Kinnaur. Mr. Negi, has used his electoral franchise for the 29th time in India.
Former Union Minister from Congress and now senior BJP leader Sukhram cast his vote in Mandi along with his son and grandson, all of whom have now joined the BJP. Talking to reporters the octogenarian leader said the present Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh was responsible for this plight of Congress in Mandi as well as the entire State.
Mr. Virbhadra Singh voted in Rampur with his family, although he is contesting the elections from Arki in Solan and his son from rural Shimla. Senior Congress leader Kaul Singh Thakur voted in his native constituency of Drang in Mandi and said people would send him for ninth time to the State Vidhan Sabha.
The BJP’s chief ministerial face Prem Kumar Dhumal voted along with his son Anurag Thakur and wife in Samirpur.
Sixty sitting MLAs were among the 337 candidates fighting for a seat in the 68 member Assembly. As many as 7,525 polling booths were set up and 37,605 personnel deputed for poll duty in the state, which has a total of 50,25,941 voters.
Security arrangements
A total of 17,850 personnel of police and Home Guards and 65 companies of central paramilitary force had also been deployed.
The Congress and the BJP, led by Mr. Dhumal, contested all 68 seats. The BSP fought for 42 seats, the CPI(M) 14, the Swabhiman Party and Lok Gathbandhan Party six each and the CPI three. There are also 112 independents in the fray. Dharamsala had the maximum number of candidates at 12.
