Shimla, February 26
The fate of 391 candidates was sealed in the electronic voting machines as 70 per cent of the electorate exercised their franchise during one-day polling for 65 Assembly seats in the hill state today.

Barring a minor incident of stone throwing at Kandi village in Palampur, no untoward incident was reported and polling was peaceful. The polling started on a sluggish note and only about 15 per cent of the votes were cast up to 11 am. Extreme cold due to overcast sky kept people indoors in the morning in the upper hill areas of Shimla, Kulu and Sirmour. However, the polling picked up as the day progressed. The turnout was on the higher side in the lower hill areas of Kangra, Una and Hamirpur. The highest percentage of 79 was recorded in Nagrota-Bagwan whereas Shimla had the lowest turnout of 47 per cent. In Hamirpur district, the average polling was 68 per cent while in Una and Kangra districts it was over 70 per cent.

A large number of voters complained that their names were missing from the electoral rolls. Many of them came armed with the voter identity cards in the hope of using electronic voting machines but had to return disappointed. In Chamba, the names of about 90 voters were missing from the list. In Shimla even the names of some Municipal Councillors were missing. Mrs Mala Singh, Congress councillor from the Jakhoo ward, did not find her name in the voters list. The name of another Congress councillor, Ms Archana Dhawan, was also not in the list.

The prominent leaders whose fate will be decided included Mr P.K. Dhumal, Chief Minister; Mr Virbhadra Singh, a former Chief Minister; Mr Sukh Ram, HVC supremo; Mr Jaikrishan Sharma, the state BJP chief; Mrs Vidya Stokes, the Pradesh Congress Committee chief; Mr Gulab Singh Thakur, Speaker; and Mr Sat Mahajan, a former PCC chief. The turnout was higher in the lower hill areas of Kangra, Hamirpur and Una districts as compared to upper hills. Women turned out in strength in the lower areas where long queues were seen outside most polling stations.

The use of electronic voting machines also enthused the rural voters who were keen on using the gadget. In Nurpur polling was interrupted in the Fattu Ka Bagh polling station of Anoh due to a fault in the EVM. The observer has sent a report to the Election Commission. However, the District Returning Officer ordered a repoll in the Anoh polling booth on February 28 after having talks with the representatives of political parties.

In another interesting incident, a dispute arose over the total number of polled votes at the Sabzi Mandi polling booth here. While the machine showed a total of 354 votes whereas as per the slips issued by the polling officer only 350 votes were cast. It was revealed that the machine developed a snag as a result of which one of the voters was made to press the button four times when the beep was heard.

The residents of Moin in the Ani constituency boycotted the election in protest against the failure of the government to fulfil their demand for upgradation of the local school and construction of a road. In Manjhar, the people initially boycotted the poll but relented after the local SDM talked to them.

While Mr P.K. Dhumal, Chief Minister, exercised his franchise at his native Samirpur village in Bamsen. Mr Virbhadra Singh, a former Chief Minister, cast his vote in Rampur. Mrs Vidya Stokes pressed the button at Thanedhar in Kumarsain.

Both BJP and the Congress claimed that the moderate-to-heavy turnout was indicative of a swing in their favour. Soon after casting his vote, Mr Dhumal claimed that the BJP would return to power with a two-thirds majority. The Congress, on the other hand, maintained that it was set to form the government in the state with a comfortable majority.

As usual, the turnout was low in the Shimla (47 per cent) and adjoining Kusumpati (52 per cent) constituencies. The twin constituencies have a large number of voters from upper Shimla areas that preferred to cast their votes in their native villages in the Rohru, Kotkhai, Kumarsain and Theog constituencies. The counting of votes will take place on March 1 and the result will be out by the evening. Polling in the three snow-bound tribal constituencies of Kinnaur, Bharmour and Lahaul-Spiti will be held on June 8.

NAHAN: About 65 per cent voters in the Sirmour district exercised their franchise. The polling in the 445 polling stations of the district passed off peacefully. In the hilly and interior areas having cold weather conditions the polling was reported to be very slow in the forenoon but it picked up later in the day. A highest of 71 per cent polling was reported from the Pacchad Assembly segment while in the Paonta constituency it touched 70 per cent. In Renuka constituency 58 per cent polling was recorded while in the Nahan segment and the Shillai constituency 61 per cent and 65 per cent was reported, respectively. In Nahan town, several voters complain about their names being missing from the voters’ list. Mr Bir Bahadur Singh of Nahan and families of Mr R.R. Sharma, Executive Officer, Nahan, and several other persons were not allowed to vote despite having voter cards.

DHARAMSALA: The fate of 115 candidates vying 16 Vidhan Sabha seats in Kangra district was sealed on Wednesday. Barring a few minor incidents, the polling passed off peacefully.

The constituency wise polling percentage is Dharamsala (67 per cent), Shahpur (65 per cent), Kangra (75 per cent), Nagrota Bagwan (80 per cent). Sullah (60 per cent), Thural (62 per cent), Rajgir (reserve) (72 per cent), Baijnath (63 per cent), 65 per cent in Palampur, Jwalamukhi, Jaswan and Pragpur (reserve), 70 per cent in Gangath (reserve), Nurpur (62 per cent), Guler (60 per cent), and Jawali (60 per cent). According to Mr Saxena, the polling at some stations continued even after 5 p.m. as people had gathered before time for casting votes.

At the Fattu Ka Bagh polling station an EVM went out of order, which created some tension. But the SDM, Nurpur, and the DSP immediately reached the spot and changed the machine after which the polling continued peacefully. Some tension was also reported from Shahpur and Palampur but, according to the Deputy Commissioner, no complaint of serious law and order situation had been received.

NURPUR: About 75 per cent voting was recorded in this Assembly constituency. The polling was largely peaceful except in the Fattu Ka Bagh polling booth where the Congress candidate, Mr Sat Mahajan, accused BJP workers of casting bogus votes in connivance with the presiding officer.

Meanwhile, as many as 165 voters from the Garhi Lagor gram panchayat found their names missing from the voters’ list. They also submitted a complaint to the Assistant Electoral Officer, Nurpur. In Gangath Assembly constituency about 65 per cent polling was recorded. Mansa Devi (110) and Goro Devi (101) exercised their franchise at Rehan and Jassur polling booths, respectively.

KANGRA: A piquant situation arose in the Kangra town when a large number of people carrying the voter identity cards were deprived of their right to franchise as their names were not in the voters’ list.

Mr Harshvardan, a local businessman, told this correspondent on Wednesday that he and his wife had the voter cards but there names were not their in the voters’ list and were not allowed to vote. Another voter Avtar Krishen, who had a voter card, besides five of his family members, were not allowed to vote for the same reason.

The protesting voters approached the local Tehsildar, who expressed his inability to allow them to vote. According to sources, another 15 members of a family of this town, too, were deprived of their right to franchise despite having the voter cards. Mr Ashwani Kumar, SDM, Kangra, said the affected voters should have got their names updated in the electoral rolls before the commencement of the poll process. He said the department received claims and objections of the voters up to January 7.

Meanwhile, the police said a clash between supporters of Mr G.S. Bali and Mr R.C. Bhatia of the BJP took place in the Nagrota Bagwan police station area on Tuesday night. However, the situation was saved due to the police intervention. The sources said supporters of Mr Bhatia came in a vehicle and entered the police station alleging that the supporters of Mr Bali were distributing liquor among the voters in the Pathiar locality of this constituency. It was within minutes that a large number of Mr Bali’s supporters reached the police station and clashed with Mr Bhatia’s supporters, they said. A small number of policemen present at the police station had a hard time controlling clashing groups. However, none was seriously injured.

According to sources, the police seized some pouches of wine from the vehicle of Mr Bhatia’s supporters. Meanwhile, Mr Ashwani Kumar, SDM, and Mr O.P. Jamwal, DSP, Kangra, reached the police station and diffused the situation. The police also received a complaint that a BDC member, Mr Sandeep, was kidnapped, however, he was traced around 1.30 a.m. by the police, the sources added.

PALAMPUR: Over 65 per cent voters in the five constituencies of Palampur subdivision exercised their franchise on Wednesday. In many polling stations the percentage touched 80 per cent. In rural areas, the turnout was much higher than the urban areas.

At Ghuggar, Bindravan, Differpat and Kalu di Hatti polling stations there was over 75 per cent polling. Long queues of women voters were seen in many polling stations. In rural areas, voters had to wait for their turn for a long time. Ms Sheela Devi, 92 years old, was carried by her son at Maranda to cast her vote. Six blind persons were also brought to votes. Inmates of the lepers’ home also voted. The polling remained peaceful and no untoward incident was reported.

HAMIRPUR: Sixtyfive to 70 per cent voters exercised their right to franchise in this district on Wednesday.

A large number of men and women were seen at almost all polling stations in the district. However, women outnumbered men in the polling.

Nearly 24 blind, deaf and dumb and handicapped persons came along with their family members and cast their votes.

Caretaker Chief Minister, Prem Kumar Dhumal was the first person to cast vote at the Samirpur polling station in Hamirpur district. Earlier, he visited the temple of Maan Awahdevi and offered prayers.

A visit to nearly 84 polling stations across the district revealed that there was much enthusiasm among the people to reach the polling stations in time. Though the climate was cloudy in the morning hours with chill, it became clear later in the day. An official spokesman claimed that the polling passed off peacefully in the district.

UNA: According to returning officers, the polling percentage in the Santokhgarh constituency was 50 per cent, Una 49 per cent, Kutlehar 47 per cent, Gagret 58 per cent and Chintpurni 62 per cent.

As per an official report the total voting percentage in the district till 4 pm was 54 per cent. According to unofficial sources, more than 65 per cent votes were cast.

BILASPUR: 65 to 70 per cent votes were cast in the district on Wednesday while polling between 75 and 80 per cent was recorded in Bilaspur. The final figure was yet to be announced by the administration at the time of filing the report.

The polling was peaceful in all four constituencies. Women outnumbered men at most polling stations. At Raghunathpura, a turpentine factory employee, Mr Amar Singh, complained that though his name was in the voter list given to candidates, his name had been struck off in the list with the polling staff. He was allowed to exercise his franchise, but after reasoning for four hours.

MANDI: Despite chilly weather and overcast sky a large number of men and women converged on the polling stations. At Saigloo polling booth in the Mandi constituency, 103-year old Gulabi Devi came to cast her vote. Similarly, at the Silag polling booth, 105-year old Nihari Devi also exercised her vote.

At the Khanhar polling booth in the Darang constituency, 100 of the 972 voters had cast their votes by the first hour of voting. Thakur Kaul Singh, a former Speaker, also cast his vote in this booth. In the Sadar constituency, HVC supremo Sukh Ram cast his vote at 9.30 a.m. in U-Block in Mandi town.

Official reports received from all 10 constituencies of the district the percentage of votes polled up to 2 p.m. is as under: Chachiot (59 per cent), Balh (50 per cent), Nachan (50 per cent), Mandi (55 per cent), Darang (50 per cent), Joginder Nagar (55 per cent), Gopalpur (40 per cent), Dharampur (41 per cent), Sunder Nagar (48 per cent) and Karsog (40 per cent).

KULU: Despite the cold weather conditions, the total polling in this district has been reported as 68 per cent. The polling in all areas remained peaceful and the people started coming for casting votes leisurely since morning.

The higher reaches received another spell of snow and the lower parts received rain in the morning in the Kulu valley. Slowly the weather changed, with strong winds and the sun started playing hide and seek till the completion of polling.

The people were enthusiastic, though they were smart in not expressing their feelings. This disappointed exit poll observers from different media channels here. The people of Muin village in the Ani constituency boycotted the election and none of the 268 voters turned up for voting.