No re-poll in HP; 72.65 per cent polling recorded

Shimla, Dec 20 (UNI) An estimated 72.65 per cent of over 44 lakh voters polled their votes in the second and final phase of Himachal Pradesh assembly elections for the 65 constituencies, State Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Manisha Nanda said today.

She said no re-poll had been ordered in any of the 5,946 polling booths set up across 10 districts of the state following no report of violence from anywhere.

Sirmaur district polled the highest of 77.92 per cent votes yesterday followed by 74.90 in Mandi district and 74.31 per cent in Chamba district, Ms Nanda said.

Kullu district registered 74.13 per cent polling, while Kangra district 71.52, Shimla district 66.56, Solan district 74.03, Bilaspur district 72.83, Hamirpur 67.70, Una district 72.70.

The CEO said Chachiot in Mandi district of the state recorded the highest percentage of 82.62 per cent polling followed by 80.28 per cent in Pachhad (SC) and 79.07 at Paonta Sahib, both in Sirmaur district.

Shimla constituency in the district recorded the lowest polling percentage of 53.10 per cent, while Naduanta and Mewa, both in Hamirpur district recorded 66.03 per cent respectively, she added.

The polling was peaceful and orderly and no major incident of violence was reported from any part of the state, it added.

The three tribal seats of Kinnuar, Chamba and Bharmaur where elections were held on November 14 had recorded about 72 per cent polling.

This polling percentage of 72.65 per cent was about two percent down from 2003 assembly elections, which recorded 74.5 per cent polling.

UNI