Shimla, November 14
Moderate to heavy turnout was recorded in the three tribal constituencies of Himachal Pradesh that went to the polls in the first phase of Assembly elections today. Around 65 per cent of the electorate exercised their franchise.
No untoward incident was reported from anywhere. However, polling was delayed at Poh and Tabo in Lahaul-Spiti for sometime due to malfunctioning of EVMs. In Kinnaur, the polling agent of the BJP candidate at the Chango polling booth was changed with the approval of the returning officer following a complaint.
The Lahaul-Spiti segment, which has the lowest number of electorate (22,809), recorded the highest polling between 71 and 73 per cent. The heaviest turnout of 78.5 per cent was recorded in Spiti. The average in Lahaul valley came to around 70 per cent. The highest polling station at Hikkam, located at an altitude of over 15,000 ft, recorded 83.3 per cent turnout, while the figure was 80 per cent in case of the next highest polling station at Kibber. During the past two elections, the percentage was over 73.
In the Bharmour constituency, polling was higher in the Pangi area (73 per cent) as compared to the Bharmour area (61 per cent).
Kinnaur segment recorded 64 per cent polling. The percentage was higher in the interior areas, whereas the voters in main towns did not take much interest in the election. The low turnout is also attributed to the fact that the election coincided with the Lavi fair of Rampur in which a large number people from Kinnaur participate. During the past two Assembly elections, when the polling was held in June, over 72 per cent of voters had exercised their franchise. The percentage was 66.83 in 1993 when the tribal areas went to the polls in November.
Chief electoral officer Manisha Nanda said EVMs and other election material would be airlifted from Keylong and Kaza to Kullu where counting would take place on December 28. Similarly, the EVMs from the
65 per cent polling in tribal areas
Pangi area would be brought to Bharmour for counting.
At present, all three seats are held by the Congress. There are 12 candidates in the fray for these seats. The main contest in Kinnaur is between Jagat Singh Negi of the Congress and Tejwant Negi of the BJP.
In Bharmour, old rivals Thakur Singh (Congress) and Tulsi Ram (BJP) are clashing for the sixth consecutive time.
The contest is triangular in Lahaul-Spiti, involving Phunchog Rai (Congress), Ram Lal Markandae (BJP) and Bir Singh Rawal (BSP).
