Himachal Pradesh Assembly Election 2017: Polling picks up pace as 35% voters exercise franchise till 1 pm

Shimla: Moderate to heavy polling was recorded in Himachal Pradesh on Thursday with 35 percent voters exercising their franchise till 1 pm. The polling was peaceful but there were reports of malfunctioning of EVMs and VVPATs from several places and polling could not be held in Gondla polling booth in tribal Lahaul and Spiti district. The EVM was replaced but after three votes it again developed some snag. The EVM was being repaired and polling would commence soon, election officials said. [caption id=“attachment_4201089” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Voters in a queue show their voter identity card at a polling booth in Mandi, Himachal Pradesh on Thursday. PTI[/caption] 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. Shimla district recorded the highest polling of 36 percent. The largest Kangra district recorded 22 percent voting while Kinnaur recorded 35 percent polling. Hamirpur, Bilaspur, Mandi, Una, Solan and Sirmaur districts recorded 26 percent, 29 percent, 32 percent, 35 percent and 30 percent polling till noon while Theog constituency in Shimla recorded highest 42 percent polling. Polling has picked up since noon. 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, followed by the CPM (14), Swabhiman Party and Lok Gathbandhan Party (six each) and the CPI (3). There is a straight contest only in one constituency (Jhanduta) while the maximum number of 12 candidates is in fray in Dharamsala. Click here to follow LIVE updates on Himachal Pradesh Assembly Election 2017