Himachal Pradesh Assembly Election 2017 highlights: Around 74% voter turnout till 5pm; BJP, Congress each claim thumping win

ananyas [9:33 PM]

Step by Step Charts
Infogram

Polling still on at a few stations 

#चंबा
हिमाचल विधानसभा चुनाव
प्रदेश के कई मतदान केंद्रों में अभी भी जारी मतदान
चुराह के छप्पा में कतारों में खड़े मतदाता
लाहौल-स्पीति के कोपला में भी जारी मतदान

— News18Himachal (@News18Himachal) November 9, 2017

Chill in weather replaces poll fever; snowfall reported after voting ends

​Soon after the polling exercise concluded in Himachal Pradesh, snowfall was reported from Kinnaur hills. 

#रिकांगपिओ
मतदान समाप्त, हिमपात शुरू
चुनावी गर्मी के बाद हिमाचल में ठंडा हुआ मौसम
मौसम ने बदला रुख
किन्नौर जिला की पहाड़ियों पर बर्फबारी शुरू

— News18Himachal (@News18Himachal) November 9, 2017

Electoral fate of 337 candidates locked in EVMs

#HimachalPradeshElections: Polling ends, visuals from a polling station in Mandi pic.twitter.com/DvuH1oQCLF

— India TV (@indiatvnews) November 9, 2017

Several reports of malfunctioning of EVMs, VVPATs; Himachal first state to use paper trail machines 

Reports of fault in VVPAT machines were received in Sirmaur district while polling started late by 15-20 minutes in some polling booths, PTI reported. Journalist Raghavendra Rao tweeted that  58 EVMs and 102 VVPATs had to be replaced during actual polling in the state. He said that the maximum number of technical snags were reported from in Una district, followed by Mandi, Kangra, Solan and Shimla regions. 

Most #EVM & #VVPAT failures in Una, followed by Mandi, Kangaroo, Solan & Shimla #HimachalElections2017

— Raghvendra Rao (@raghvendra_rao) November 9, 2017

Polling closes for Himachal Pradesh elections; only those in queue can now cast their votes

Polling Percentage breakup in Shimla region

#शिमला
4 बजे तक शिमला शहरी विस क्षेत्र में 66% मतदान
शिमला ग्रामीण में 62 प्रतिशत मतदान कसुम्पटी में 61 प्रतिशत मतदान
चौपाल में 70 प्रतिशत मतदान
रोहड़ू में 64 प्रतिशत मतदान,जुब्बल-कोटखाई में 75 फीसदी मतदान
ठियोग में 71 प्रतिशत मतदान
रामपुर विस क्षेत्र से 66 प्रतिशत मतदान दर्ज

— News18Himachal (@News18Himachal) November 9, 2017

In Chamba district, 67% polling recorded till 4 pm: News 18

Nalagarh records 80% polling 

#नालागढ़
हिमाचल विधानसभा चुनाव
दून में 4 बजे तक 66 प्रतिशत मतदान
नालागढ़ में 80 प्रतिशत मतदान दर्ज
शांतिपूर्ण ढंग से जारी मतदान

— News18Himachal (@News18Himachal) November 9, 2017

64.8 polling in till 4PM

A total of 50.25 lakh electorate, including 19 lakh women and 14 transgenders, will decide the fate of the candidates.

The Hikkim polling station in Lahaul-Spiti district, the country’s highest polling booth at 14,567 ft, has 194 voters. The minimum number of voters – six – are at Kaa village in Kinnaur district. The polling will continue till 5 pm.

Women voters turn out in strength

Did you know, over 1,000 Tibetans are eligible to cast their votes in Himachal?

Tibetan refugees in India cannot apply for government jobs and routinely face difficulties. They don’t get land lease documents, and are neither eligible for the government’s developmental schemes. However, the rules do allow all Tibetans born in India during 1950-1987 to get voting rights. Around 1,000 Tibetan voters are registered in Dharamsala region alone, and with the highest number of candidates in the fray, this small pocket of voters can easily play a decisive role in the tough contest.

This is what the outgoing House looked like

Tibetans in Dharamsala divided over voting in Assembly poll

Tibetans in Dharamsala, living in exile for long in the second capital of Himachal Pradesh, are divided over securing voting rights in India.

Some of the Tibetans feel that exercising their vote in India could dilute their struggle for freedom while others say that the Tibet movement is in their hearts and voting can’t deter them from their struggle.

Although Tibetan voters are around 1,000 in Dharamsala, contestants in the fray for the November 9 Assembly polls cannot ignore this small segment as the presence of some powerful candidates has made the contest tight.

Dharamsala has the largest number of candidates in the fray. Twelve candidates are contesting from the key constituency while the main candidates are Urban Development Minister Sudhir Sharma of the Congress and former minister Kishan Kapoor of the BJP.

Congress’ Vidya Stokes could have been the oldest candidate in the fray

Stokes, 89, would have been the oldest contestant if she had remained in the electoral fray. However, the Election Commission had rejected her nomination papers, citing discrepancy in documents. An eight time legislator, and Himachal Pradesh’s Irrigation and Public Health Minister, Stokes represented Theog constituency in the outgoing House. 

She is the daughter-in-law of American missionary Satyanand Stokes. 

Senior Congress leader Vidya Stokes cast her vote a polling booth in Shimla’s Barubag 

Senior Congress leader Vidya Stokes cast her vote a polling booth in Shimla's Barubag #HimachalPradeshElections pic.twitter.com/Qj4doKbMOr

— ANI (@ANI) November 9, 2017

Independent India’s first voter, 100-year-old  Shyam Saran Negi castes his vote at Kalpa

Negi is hundred-and-one-years old and was 35 when the independent India went to polls for the first time. His wrinkled forehead and hollow cheeks may show signs of aging, but his enthusiasm to participate in yet another democratic exercise in his home state remains unsullied. 

Negi says that he speaks on the basis of his health at this very moment. “You never know what might happen tomorrow,” he says, adding, “sometimes even I don’t know if I will see another day.”  Negi appeals to everyone, especially the youth, to come out and vote in large numbers. 

54.09% polling in Himachal Pradesh Elections till 2 pm

#HimachalPradeshElections : News Update

54.9 % voters have cast their vote till 2 pm in Himachal Pradesh State assembly elections today.

— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) November 9, 2017

Demonetisation, or Rs 1500, may cost BJP at least this one vote in Himachal

​

Demonetisation may cost the BJP at least this one vote in Himachal Pradesh. Staying in the Great Himalayan National Park alone, octogenarian Chatri Devi is determined to vote against demonetisation as her three banknotes are no good. Her grudge is that could not replace her three old banknotes of Rs 500 each after last year’s denomination. “She is really upset with the BJP,” her grandson Gumat Ram told IANS. 

She showed three banknotes of Rs 500 each, which she couldn’t change as the government didn’t extend the deadline for exchanging demonetised currency notes beyond 30 December last year.

Chatri Devi, 83, lives all alone in the Unesco-tagged Great Himalayan National Park, one of the richest biodiversity sites in the western Himalayas, in the picturesque Kullu Valley. Park authorities say she is the only person living in the park that is spread over 754 sq km.

101-year-old Gauri Devi casts her vote in Kullu

Kinnaur records its highest ever voting percentage

By 12 pm, Kinnaur district recorded its highest ever voting percentage of 35 percent, reported The Indian Express .

Himachal votes for a new Assembly

Voting is underway in the hill state of Himachal Pradesh where the BJP, which focused on corruption during its campaign, is seeking to dislodge the Virbhadra Singh-led Congress government while deflecting attacks by rivals on demonetisation and GST.

A total of 337 candidates, including 60 sitting MLAs, are contesting for power over the 68-member legislative assembly of Himachal Pradesh, one of the very few states under Congress control.

The Himachal Pradesh results along with that of the BJP-ruled Gujarat will be a bellwether of Prime Minister Narendra Modis popularity. – PTI

‘Himachal is with progress, Himachal is with Congress’

With 70,000 jobs for youth per year, Himachal has been kept away from the epidemic of unemployment, widespread elsewhere. Himachal is with progress, Himachal is with Congress. #DevbhoomiWithCongress #himachalpradeshelections

— Himachal Congress (@INCHimachal) November 9, 2017

A groom in Manali decides to cast vote first and then getting married

Here’s a look at past Assembly election results in Himachal Pradesh

Straight contest in one constituency

There is a straight contest only in one constituency (Jhanduta) while the maximum number of 12 candidates is in fray in Dharamsala.

Queue outside Kalpa polling booth in Kinnaur

28.8 percent polling recorded till 12 pm in Himachal Pradesh

Polling delayed in Sirmaur district because of faulty VVPAT machines

PTI reported that the polling in Sirmaur district was delayed by 15-20 minutes because of faulty VVPAT machines.

Country’s first voter Shyam Saran Negi casts his vote at Kalpa polling station

Negi is hundred and one years old and was 35 when the independent India went to polls for the first time.

Women in rural areas turned out in large numbers

Women in the rural areas turned out in large numbers to cast their vote. Voting began on a dull note, with below five percent polling in the first hour. By 10 am, it rose to 13 percent. – IANS

‘All indicators bespeak the shining vibrancy of Himachal under Congress’

From Human Index to Per Capita Income, all the indicators bespeak the shining vibrancy of Himachal under Congress. The land hails progressive development once again. #DevbhoomiWithCongress

— Himachal Congress (@INCHimachal) November 9, 2017

Shimla MLA and BJP candidate Suresh Bhardwaj after casting his vote

Reports of glitches in VVPAT machines

There are reports of glitches in VVPAT machines from over a dozen polling booths across the state.

Union minister JP Nadda casts his vote in Bilaspur

#HimachalElections2017 Union Minister JP Nadda casts his vote at a polling booth in Bilaspur pic.twitter.com/wt7a9jrJr0

— ANI (@ANI) November 9, 2017

A look at Congress and BJP’s vote share in Himachal Pradesh over the years

Breakup of voting percent till 10 am

According to The Indian Express , this is the vote breakup for the first two hours

Shimla: 16 percent

Kasumpti: 22 percent

Chaupal: 15 percent

Rampur: 18 percent

Lahaul-Spiti records 9 percent polling till 10 am

Tribal district Lahaul-Spiti recorded nine percent polling till 10 am, reported Hindustan Times

VVPAT machine in Sujanpur not working

VVPAT machine in Ree polling booth of Hamirpur’s Sujanpur is not working, reported Hindustan Times .

A look at how political parties fared in Himachal Pradesh Election, 2012

Shimla records 16 percent polling till 10 am

Narendra Modi urges Himachal to vote in record numbers

Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the people of Himachal Pradesh to come out and vote in “record numbers” for the assembly election underway in the state.

Prem Kumar Dhumal after casting his vote

13.77 percent polling recorded till 10 am in Himachal Pradesh

Virbhadra Singh, PK Dhuman shifted their constituencies

Both Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and Dhumal have shifted their constituencies and are contesting from Arki and Sujanpur.

Virbhadra Singh says the days to come will see new breakthrough in development

The indelible ink is the mark of indelible history of flourishing Himachal under Congress. The days to come will see a new breakthrough in development & welfare, and new benchmarks will be set for other states to emulate. #DevbhoomiWithCongress pic.twitter.com/ys6w5njhsk

— Pratibha Virbhadra Singh (@virbhadrasingh) November 9, 2017

A look at Congress and BJP candidates contesting the Himachal elections

BJP workers stage protest in Bilaspur district

BJP workers staged a protest at Telag polling booth of Bilaspur district, alleging that the EVM button for the BJP candidate was not working, according to The Times of India

EVMs not working at Jagatsukh, Larakeloncand Solang

The Times of India reported that EVMs are not working at Jagatsukh, Solang polling booths.

Virbhadra Singh casts his vote at a polling booth in Shimla along with his son

Prem Kumar Dhumal and BJP MP Anurag Thakur cast their vote

Hamirpur: BJP's chief ministerial candidate Prem Kumar Dhumal and BJP MP from Hamirpur Anurag Thakur cast their votes. #HimachalPradeshElections pic.twitter.com/pNxe6IzYu0

— ANI (@ANI) November 9, 2017

Virbhadra Singh says confident of getting majority in the election

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said that the Congress is confident of getting a majority in the Himachal Pradesh Assembly Election.

Confident of getting majority in the election, the next Government too will be of Congress: Virbhadra Singh #HimachalPradesh pic.twitter.com/eQhwLq50ld

— ANI (@ANI) November 9, 2017

Himachal Congress stands united to retain the state

Himachal stands united to bring back the govt that has worked tirelessly for the development of the state under the leadership of a pioneer @virbhadrasingh Ji. #DevbhoomiWithCongress

— Himachal Congress (@INCHimachal) November 9, 2017

Shyam Saran Negi, hundred-and-one-years old, to also vote today

News18 reported that Shyam Saran Negi, is hundred-and-one-years old and was 35 when the independent India went to polls for the first time, will participate in another democratic exercise.

Amit Shah appeals to the people to vote for a development-oriented government

मैं समस्त हिमाचलवासियों से अपील करता हूँ कि देवभूमि हिमाचल के मान और प्रतिष्ठा को पुनः स्थापित कर प्रदेश का चहुंमुखी विकास करने वाली सरकार बनाने के लिए मतदान अवश्य करें। pic.twitter.com/bJURArTfkF

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) November 9, 2017

Prem Kumar Dhumal is BJP’s shining light in the hills

Dhumal is a senior party leader and a two-time chief minister of the hill state. If the state votes in favour of anti-incumbency for a sixth straight time, as is widely expected, Dhumal would be on his way to clinching a third term as chief minister.

Dhumal was earlier chief minister from 2007 to 2013 before being deposed by Virbhadra Singh.

People have made up their mind to get rid of Congress: BJP leader

Time has come, people have made up their mind to get rid of Congress who has looted Himachal Pradesh. The state needs a senior leader like Dhumal ji to look at the affairs of Himachal which is under the debt of more than Rs 50,000 crore: Anurag Thakur, BJP MP from Hamirpur pic.twitter.com/omnuKAVxKY

— ANI (@ANI) November 9, 2017

BJP expects to cross 60 seats in the polls: Prem Kumar Dhumal

BJP’s chief ministerial candidate Prem Kumar Dhumal said that the party was aiming at 50 seats but because of the overwhelming support, it expects to cross 60.

We aimed to get 50 plus seats but now that we are receiving so much support from all sections of the society, we expect it to cross 60: Prem Kumar Dhumal, BJP's CM candidate #HimachalPradesh pic.twitter.com/7kulnZrzdz

— ANI (@ANI) November 9, 2017

Survey predict thumping victory for BJP in Himachal Pradesh Election

According to C-Voter survey the BJP will enjoy an 11.8 percent swing in vote share, with the Congress set to suffer a swing of negative five percent. In terms of seat share too, the BJP looks set to double its tally of 26 seats and end up with 52 this time around, while the incumbent party appears to be on the verge of losing 21 seats, greatly diminishing its kitty of 36 seats.

BJP state organisational secretary Pavan Rana casts his vote

Results of these polls will go beyond ‘routine’ anti-incumbency

There is something about the upcoming Assembly election in Himachal Pradesh that goes beyond routine anti-incumbency. India has been witnessing some very intriguing election results ever since 2014. It started with the Telangana Rashtra Samithi winning the first-ever Assembly election of Telangana and the Congress being wiped out and relegated to third position in Andhra Pradesh.

Read the entire article by Yashwant Deshmukh here .

People line up to cast their vote at Racholi in Rampur

EC to webcast live from 2,300 polling stations

Election Commission has decided to introduce live webcast from 2,300 polling stations, out of total 7,525 in the state, to ensure free and fair polling across 12 districts of Himachal Pardesh, reported The Indian Express .

“We have kept helicopters at stand-by, besides having hired boats to ferry election material and also polling parties in case of emergencies, apart from traditional means like mules being used in the earlier elections,” the report quoted Chief Electoral Officer Pushpendra Rajput, as saying.

A teacher on poll duty takes selfie with postal ballot

A government teacher, who was roped in for poll duty, has been booked for allegedly clicking a selfie, which he later circulated on social media, while casting his postal ballot, an election official told PTI.

The education department has also issued a showcause notice to Kamlesh Kumar, an art teacher posted in Government Senior School Sainj.

Here’s the party-wise list of candidates for 68 constituencies

The ruling Congress led by the chief minister and the BJP led with former chief minister Dhumal are contesting all 68 seats while the BSP is contesting 42 seats.
 

Click to read the entire list here

Himachal Pradesh excise dept seizes 3.26 lakh bulk litre of liquor since announcement of poll

The state Excise Department has seized 3.26 lakh bulk litre of liquor and Rs 1.48 crore in cash from different parts of Himachal Pradesh since the announcement of the poll, a spokesman for the department said.

He said that flying squads, static teams and other police teams and Income Tax Department have so far seized cash totalling Rs 1,48,07,615 from different parts of the state.

Polling yet to start at Reckong Peo in Kinnaur

Polling is yet to begin at Reckong Peo, a booth managed by women, in Kinnaur.

People cast their votes in Shimla

Polling underway in all the 68 constituencies of #HimachalPradesh, people cast their votes at a polling booth in Shimla's Rampur pic.twitter.com/FmqglALAw1

— ANI (@ANI) November 9, 2017

Voting to continue till 5 pm on Thursday

A total of 50.25 lakh electorate, including 19 lakh women and 14 transgenders, will decide the fate of the candidates in Himachal Pradesh Assembly Election. The polling will continue till 5 pm.

VVPAT machines being used for the first time in this Vidhan Sabha Election

VVPAT machines are being used for the first time in this Vidhan Sabha Election and 10 percent of total EVMs and VVPATs have been kept in reserve. The Election Commission has also allowed the electors to cast their vote by producing any one document out of the 12 identity documents.

In Pictures: Voters queue up to cast their votes

#HimachalElections2017 Voters queue up to cast their votes at a polling booth in Dharamshala. pic.twitter.com/Z8nfe5g6ID

— ANI (@ANI) November 9, 2017

Polling for all 68 constituencies begins in Himachal Pradesh

#FLASH Polling for all the 68 constituencies begins in Himachal Pradesh assembly elections pic.twitter.com/I484IE1ouX

— ANI (@ANI) November 9, 2017

Exit polls cannot be made public before 14 December: EC

Exit poll results for Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat Assembly elections cannot be made public before 14 December evening, the Election Commission said.

A poll panel order citing election law said “conducting any exit poll and publishing or publicising by means of the print or electronic media or dissemination in any other manner, whatsoever the result of any exit poll in connection with the current general elections to the legislative assemblies of Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat shall be prohibited” between 8 am from 9 November to 6 pm of 14 December. – PTI

EC asks media to refrain from airing predictions by astrologers

Predictions about election results by astrologers, tarot readers and others in media when there is a ban on broadcasting exit polls are a violation of law, the Election Commission said

The EC’s advisory asked the media, both electronic and print, to “refrain” from airing and publishing such programmes in future elections during the prohibited period to ensure free, fair and transparent polls.

Tight security arrangements in place

As many as 7,525 polling booths have been set up in the state and 37,605 polling personnel have been deputed for poll duty.

Web-casting would be used in 2,307 polling stations in the state for live monitoring of polling activities in the state by Election Commission of India and polling would be held from 8.00 am to 5.00 pm, the Chief Election Officer said.

Tight security in Himachal Pradesh as polling is set to begin soon

11,500 #HimachalPradesh police jawans, 6400 Home guards, 65 companies of paramilitary forces deployed across the state for the assembly election: Voting set to begin at 8 AM, visuals from a polling booth in Shimla's Rampur pic.twitter.com/ncRBcsR9Yg

— ANI (@ANI) November 9, 2017

A look at the current Himachal Assembly

The 68-member Assembly is ruled by Congress which has 36 seats. The Opposition BJP has 26 seats at present.

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh appeals people to vote for Congress

Hard work & sincerity run in the veins of Himachal ppl. It’s an honor to dedicate my life to your service. Even personal attacks too couldn't deter me. I believe, together we can take HP to newer heights. Once again, I appeal to you to vote for Congress. https://t.co/6b9wmz1RJA

— Pratibha Virbhadra Singh (@virbhadrasingh) November 8, 2017

Only 19 women candidates in Himachal Pradesh elections

There are 19 women in the fray including six fielded by the BJP and three by the Congress while seven rebels each of BJP and Congress are also contesting the polls.

Here’s a look at the chief ministeral candidates of Congress and BJP

On one side is the Congress’ sitting chief minister Virbhadra Singh, while on the other hand is BJP’s old warhorse Prem Kumar Dhumal in the fray. The battle for the hill state is one of the rare examples when the BJP has put its stake on a clear candidate in the two-horse race.

Dhumal, a two-term chief minister, will seek to thwart Singh’s record seventh shot at power. Singh, 83, the tallest Congress leader in the state, is
facing graft cases and is locked in a bitter feud with state Congress chief Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu whose ouster he sought but failed to ensure ahead of the elections. The old Congress warhorse also has to contend with the possible anti-incumbency.

In Pictures: Polling station number 7 in Dharamshala

Polling in #HimachalPradesh to begin at 8 AM, visuals from polling station number 7 in #Dharamshala pic.twitter.com/6tYRDSv52F

— ANI (@ANI) November 9, 2017

Himachal saw 75 percent voter turnout for 2012 Assembly election

In the previous Assembly election held in Himachal Pradesh, there was a 75 percent voter turnout. Two years later, for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the state saw a 64 percent voter turnout.

Modi urges Himachal to vote in record numbers

आज देवभूमि हिमाचल प्रदेश में मतदान का दिन है। मेरी विनती है कि सभी मतदाता लोकतंत्र के महापर्व में भाग लें और भारी संख्या में मतदान करें। Urging people of Himachal Pradesh to vote in recrod numbers.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 9, 2017

Polling for all 68 constituencies in Himachal Pradesh begins at 8 am

All 68 constituencies in Himachal Pradesh will hold simultaneous polling today, and it remains to be seen if Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh can buck the anti-incumbency trend and clinch a second straight win. If he does so, it will be the first time in nearly three decades that the hill state has not voted anti-incumbency.