‘Oldest democracy’ Malana witnesses 75 pc polling

Kuldeep Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 18

While the “world’s oldest democracy” Malana achieved the voting target of 75 per cent, the poll boycott call in Pangi and the two gram panchayats of Koksar and Sissu in Lahaul-Spiti had its effect as the targets in these segments that the state election department had set could not be achieved.

According to the data accessed from Pangi election officer, Pangi recorded 68.4 per cent polling, which was 9 per cent less than that recorded in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. The two remotest gram panchayats of Pangi - Phindaru and Udeen — recorded the lowest 27 and 37 per cent turnout.

“There are six gram panchayats where the voter turnout was less than 50 per cent as a majority of tribals supported the poll boycott call. We don’t have road or phone connectivity. There is no health facility either”, said Haresh Sharma, convener, Pangi Surang Nirman Sangharsh Samiti. In Lahaul valley, the two gram panchayats of Koksar and Sissu also witnessed the impact of boycott of polls by the Save Lahaul-Spiti Society in protest against the lack of connectivity in the Chandra valley.

The first-time voters and young voters did not show much enthusiasm while exercising their franchise, revealed booth level officials.