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Record turnout as 66 pc cast vote in state
Over 70 per cent polling in Una
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Shimla district registers lowest voter turnout in state
As Indian citizens, Tibetans vote for first time
More than 65% polling in Kangra subdivision
Over 60% voting in Mandi
Kangra registers 65% voting
65% people cast vote in Palampur
64% polling in Chamba district
Heavy polling in Kasauli, Solan
Hamirpur records 70% voting
Promises not kept, voters boycott polls at 9 stations
Discounts galore for voters
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Record turnout as 66 pc cast vote in state
Shimla, May 7 The polling for the four Lok Sabha seats of Mandi, Shimla, Hamirpur and Kangra and one Assembly segment of Sujanpur in Hamirpur district started on a brisk note in the morning at 7 am. However, it became sluggish by 11 am but later picked up in the afternoon. The clear sky and good weather ensured a good turnout even in the three tribal districts of Kinnaur (67.20), Lahaul Spiti (61.68) and Bharmour (65.23). The polling was peaceful as there were no reports of any violence from anywhere. However, people boycotted poll at nine polling stations with the maximum of seven falling in Mandi district. The Sujanpur segment, witnessing a bypoll, registered 69.83 per cent polling. The highest polling in the state was in the 1998 poll when 65.31 per cent of the electorate cast their vote. The polling in the last two elections of 2009 and 2004 was 58.4 and 59.7 per cent. The highest polling was registered in Una district at 70.97 per cent followed by 69.64 in Sirmour district and Hamirpur a close third at 69.16. The lowest turnout was witnessed in the districts of Shimla (59.24) followed by Kullu (62.17) and Lahaul Spiti (61.94). The fate of 38 candidates for the Lok Sabha and four for the Assembly bypoll are sealed in the electronic voting machines. The electorate of Shimla showed relative indifference towards elections by registering one of the lowest turnout of 59.43 per cent in the entire state. The Assembly segment of Paonta Sahib registered the highest polling at 77 per cent followed by Haroli (76) and Hamirpur (72). The stakes are very high for Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh whose wife Pratibha Singh is contesting from Mandi, his predecessor PK Dhumal, whose MP son Anurag Thakur is in the fray from Hamirpur, and Shanta Kumar who is the BJP nominee from Kangra. Virbhadra Singh cast his vote in Rampur along with his wife Pratibha Singh. Dhumal, his son Anurag and other family members cast their vote in their native place Samirpur. Union Industry and Commerce Minister Anand Sharma also cast his vote in the capital while Shanta Kumar cast his vote in his home town of Palampur. It is only after the results are declared that the exact reason for the high turnout could be ascertained but it could be an indicator of the anti-incumbency and an undercurrent in favour of one party. Another reason for the high turnout could be the extra efforts put in by the cadres of the Congress and the BJP, anticipating a very close fight in all four segments. There was great enthusiasm among the first-time voters who turned up in large number to exercise their right to franchise. Similarly, women too turned up in large number to cast their votes in most places in the state. |
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Over 70 per cent polling in Una
Una, May 7 Hectic activity was seen at the polling stations right from 7 am today, that continued all day till the end of the polling time. There was enthusiasm among the new voters and many could be seen displaying indelible marks and clicking pictures outside the polling stations. Women and senior citizens began coming out in big numbers to vote after 9 am. At Joh village in Gagret Assembly segment, 100-year-old Gian Chand set an example for the youth when he walked to his polling station to cast his vote. In Una city, three visually impaired persons, Balram, Hari Krishan and Shobhana voted at the polling station situated in ward number 3. There was an added attraction for voters at five model polling stations set up in the district, where schoolgirls welcomed them with garlands and vermilion on the foreheads. This was done to draw more voters to the polling stations. As compared to the previous elections, this one was marked by little display of publicity material by rival parties. Despite the fact that Una district shares a long border with Punjab, 20 companies of paramilitary forces had been deployed to seal the borders. Out of the 508 polling stations in the district, 112 were declared sensitive and 54 as hypersensitive. Una MLA and BJP state president Satpal Singh Satti cast his vote at Jalgran polling station, while Industry Minister Mukesh Agnihotri exercised his franchise at Gondpur Bulla along with his wife Simmi Agnihotri. |
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Shimla district registers lowest voter turnout in state
Shimla, May 7 Despite the best efforts of the Election Commission of India (ECI) to motivate people to turn out in large numbers to cast their vote, the electorate of Shimla district gave a lukewarm response. The poll percentage in the 2009 polls for Shimla district was 52.71 per cent while in the 2004 Lok Sabha polls it was a mere 49.81 per cent. The Kasumpti Assembly segment which is part of the Shimla Municipal Corporation registered the lowest turnout of 54.97 per cent, followed by adjoining segment of Theog with 56.52 per cent. Karsog in Mandi (53.66) and Arki in Solan (59.66) per cent were amongst the other lowest turnout assembly segments in the state. On the contrary, Hamirpur, the Assembly segment represented by former Chief Minister PK Dhumal, recorded 70.27 per cent poling and Sujanpur, which was earlier represented by Rajinder Rana, the Congress candidate recorded 71.76. His wife Anita Rana is the Congress candidate for the Sunajnpur Assembly by-poll. Palampur, home town of Shanta Kumar registered 68.09 per cent. Sirmaur district, which has recorded a polling of over 70 per cent, has shown a considerable improvement over the polling percentage of 61.35 in 2009 polls and 55.05 in 2004 election. While Paonta has recorded more than 77.0 per cent poling, Nahan segment also registered 71.81 poling and Pachaad recorded 71.98 per cent. Jawali, assembly segment from where the Congress candidate Chander Kumar hails, the polling percentage was 68.78 per cent. |
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As Indian citizens, Tibetans vote for first time
Dharamsala, May 7 He further said: “Till date, I was a refugee and did not have any state. Now I have got an identity as an Indian citizen, my voice will have power and I will be heard.” “Still many Tibetans feel that their movement for the freedom of Tibet will be compromised in case they took Indian citizenship. However, it is a fallacy. In India also, people belong to various states and have Indian citizenship. Similarly, we will be able to maintain a link with our Tibetan roots even after becoming Indian citizens,” he added. “From now on I shall be an Indian Tibetan,” Lobsang said. Tenzing Norbu, another Tibetan, cast his vote at the Bhagsunag polling station today. “We are very thankful to the Government of India for providing the voting rights and the Indian citizenship to Tibetan refugees. It will ease the life of women living in exile, like we have to rush to offices to and fro for travel and education purposes. But now life will be easy and I am happy for this,” he said Pema Kunsang said, “I had applied for a passport long time ago, but I haven’t got it yet. But after this decision of the Government of India, I am hopeful that things would improve in exile.” At the Bhagsunag polling station, 170 Tibetans from McLeodganj had registered as voters for the first time for the Lok Sabha elections. Today till 5 pm, 133 Tibetans had exercised their franchise as Indian citizens. In the entire Kangra parliamentary constituency, about 217 Tibetans have registered as voters. Tibetans born in India were allowed Indian citizenship by the Supreme Court in February this year. Though there are about 15,000 registered Tibetan refugees staying in various habitations in Kangra district, just 217 of them are registered as voters. Many Tibetans are still not taking up Indian citizenship at they feel that it might dilute their movement for the freedom of Tibet. However, many Tibetans like Lobsang, said Tibetans had taken up the citizenship in many countries across the world like the US and European countries. However, even there they were maintaining the distinct identity as Tibetans. So there would be no harm in taking up Indian citizenship, they maintained.
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More than 65% polling in Kangra subdivision
Kangra, May 7 According to reports, in the morning, there was a problem which came up with polling agents of both Congress and BJP who carried authority letters from their respective candidates with signatures not tallying with those already submitted to Election Commission officials. According to sources, the two candidates had submitted their signature samples in one language to poll authorities, but authority letters issued to their agents carried signature in another language. The election authorities, after verifying the facts, decided to allow the party agents to enter the polling booths. In the morning, the polling stations were seen deserted in and around Kangra town till 10 am because of the harvesting season being at its peak. People were engaged with harvesting and threshing of wheat crop in the fields this morning. Yesterday, it rained in the valley, which damaged some crop, but today, as it was sunny, they preferred to deal with the agriculture work first. Kamala Devi of Bhari Mohalla in Kangra town said when farming job was over, if time permitted, they would cast their vote. Polling picked up later in the day at 10 am. The enthusiasm for casting votes was later noticeably more among women and girls. Elderly people were also seen in the queues in the day outside the polling booths. Resentment prevailed among a large number of youth whose names did not figure in the voter lists. Two polling booths in this subdivision at Kangra and Nagrota Bagwan were live on Youtube today and the polling was to be videographed in 64 polling stations which included 31 sensitive and hypersensitive polling booths. Kangra SDM Ajeet Bhardwaj said there were 197 polling booths in Kangra subdivision, which include 8 very sensitive polling booths and 23 sensitive ones. There was no report of any untoward incident. As many as 31 micro observers were deputed to keep vigil on 31 sensitive and supersensitive polling booths in this subdivision. |
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Over 60% voting in Mandi
Kullu, May 7 Residents of Birni village in the Kullu Assembly constituency, Solang village in the Manali segment, Padharni and Shapneel in the Banjar Assembly constituency and Gaar and Bashla in the Anni Assembly constituency did not exercise their franchise to protest against the inadequate power supply to their areas. It was only after 3 pm that Shapneel villagers cast their vote after local leaders assured them of resolving their problem at the earliest. However, Birni village abstained from casting their votes. Continuing their boycott of the 2013 by-elections, Solang residents also did not exercise their franchise. People at Padharni and Gaar polling stations also refrained from voting to protest against the delay in construction of the link road for which Rs 54 lakh was already deposited with the PWD. No polling was witnessed in Bashla as the residents resented non-provision of high school and health centre. As many as 17 booths of the district were marked as model polling stations (MPS) to encourage the voters by laying red carpet, providing refreshments, seating arrangements and other decoration, besides a live webcast. But there were no special provisions to assist the voters and the arrangements failed to impress the voters. Amit, a resident of Akhara, after casting his vote in one such MPS, said all basic arrangements needed at a regular booth were present, but no extraordinary facilities were evident. For voters waiting in queues, merely school benches were kept outside the booths. The showers in the evening also witnessed voters of the MPS in Akhara queuing in the rain without
any cover. |
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Kangra registers 65% voting
Dharamsala, May 7 In the constituency, Dharamsala registered the maximum polling at 70.72 per cent. Palampur recorded 68.69 per cent turnout, Nurpur 66.17 per cent, Indora 66.47 per cent, Fatehpur 64.53 per cent, Jawali 65.19 per cent, Dehra 62.18 per cent, Jawalamukhi 63.58 per cent, Jaisinghpur 57.91 per cent, Sulah 66.77 per cent, Nagrota 63.72 per cent, Kangra, 62.19 per cent, Shahpur 64.92 per cent, Baijnath 59.93 per cent, Churah 68.39 per cent, Chamba 63.14 per cent, Dalhouise 62.61 per cent and Bhattiyat 65.74 per cent. As people lined up at the polling booths early in the morning, a heavy polling was registered across the Kangra parliamentary constituency. Though the polling slowed down in the afternoon, it again picked up after about 4 pm.
In many areas, farmers did not cast their vote as they were busy stacking the wheat crop in the fields. Joginder, a farmer in the Nagrota Bagwan area, said since it was cloudy their first priority was to protect the crop lying in the fields. “I will go to vote in the evening only if my crop is safe by then,” he said. Interestingly, people did not visit the tents erected by the political parties outside the polling stations for assistance, as the voter slips were provided to eligible voters at home. The traders kept their shutters down in Kangra district as the beopar mandal had declared a holiday today to ensure maximum voting. BJP candidate from the Kangra parliamentary constituency Shanta Kumar cast his vote early in the morning at Palampur. Congress candidate Chander Kumar cast his vote at Jawali, while AAP candidate Rajan Sushant cast his vote in the Fatehpur area. Many political leaders, including Minister for Housing and Urban Development Sudhir Sharma, Minister for Transport GS Bali, former BJP minister Kishan Kapoor and Sarween Chaudhary, kept on touring their assembly segments to ensure the maximum polling in favour of their respective parties.
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75% voting in Paonta Sahib
Solan, May 7 Polling, only 17.31 per cent by 9 am, picked up in Sirmaur district by afternoon. It rose to 49.83 per cent by 1 pm, 60.23 per cent by 3 pm and 67.71 per cent by 5 pm. Paonta Sahib boasted the highest polling at 72.40 per cent by 5 pm and the lowest voting reported was 63.35 per cent at Renuka Jee by 5 pm. Paonta Sahib and Nahan, which have a large number of youth voters, witnessed the highest voting in the district among other constituencies. Areas in Pacchad and Shillai constituencies where villagers had given a call to boycott the elections witnessed low voting. Voters here said they had opted for the “None of the Above” option as their demands for basic facilities had fallen on deaf ears. DC Vikas Labroo said all electronic voting machines were being safely transported to Nahan and these would be guarded round the clock by security personnel. He said the counting would begin on May 16. |
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65% people cast vote in Palampur
Palampur, May 7 Besides, the aggregate voter turnout increased in this General Election as compared to the last election. Rural areas like
Tanda, Rajpur, Patti, Khilroo, Bindravan, Sughar, Panchrukhi and Nanao recorded an impressive 70 per cent turnout, while in urban areas the polling remained below 65 per cent. At the Saloh polling station near Palampur, 98-year-old Dano Devi was brought on shoulders by her son to help her cast vote. At the Sughar polling station, an elderly couple above the age of 85 came on foot to exercise their franchise. Senior BJP leader Shanta Kumar and his
family members cast their vote at the Aima polling station. Assembly Speaker Brij Bihari Lal Butail voted at a polling booth near Neugal café. Some students of College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences alleged that they could not cast their vote as they were made to attend the classes by a teacher despite a holiday announced by the Election Commission. College Dean Dr Sanjeet Katoch said the college had announced a holiday today and he would probe the incident. |
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64% polling in Chamba district
Chamba, May 7 Vasant said the polling in all five Assembly segments of the district went off peacefully throughout the day and no untoward incident was reported from anywhere in the district. "After completing the poll process, poll parties started their return journey from their respective polling stations and are expected to reach the district headquarter town to deposit the EVMs at Government Millennium Polytechnic College by late evening," the DC added. |
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Heavy polling in
Kasauli, Solan
Solan, May 7 Doon and Kasauli Assembly segments witnessed the highest voting of about 73 per cent each, followed by Solan (about 71 per cent), Nalagarh (70 per cent) and Arki (nearly 63 per cent). In Solan district, enthusiasm among elderly voters was palpable. Ayudhya, 105, who cast her vote at Hatkot-I polling booth in Arki, was the oldest voter followed by 102-year-old Badru Ram from Surajpur in the same constituency. Another elderly voter, 102-year-old Tulsi Devi, of Anji village reached Solan on foot to cast her vote. Accompanied by her relatives, she proudly said she had been voting for the past 60 years in all elections which have taken place in the independent India. She believes that a democratic government can be elected only if every person exercise their right to vote without any fear. Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment and Solan MLA DR Shandil and BJP’s Lok Sabha candidate Virender Kashyap also cast their vote at Bashil village and Solan town, respectively. Eleven leprosy patients also cast their votes at the Leprosy Hospital Mandodhar near Dharampur where a booth had been specially set up to facilitate them. People had started queuing up from 7 am and a large number of youth and women were seen waiting eagerly for their turn. |
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Hamirpur records 70% voting
Hamirpur, May 7 Congress candidate Rajinder Rana and his wife Anita
Rana, who is contesting the Sujanpur Assembly byelection on a Congress ticket, cast their vote at their ancestral Patlandar village. Long queues of voters were seen from early morning. Assembly segment-wise poll percentage: Hamirpur (69.87), Sujanpur (71.72), Badsar (68.68), Nadaun (67.51), Una (69.20), Chintpurni (66.36), Gagret (68.10), Kutlehar (69.63) and Dharampur (63.31). |
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Promises not kept, voters boycott polls at 9 stations
Shimla, May 7 As many as four polling stations - Jasrath, Challing, Lapchang and Kardang - fall in tribal Lahaul-Spiti. Their grouse was that their demand for the link road, school teachers and bridge were not addressed by the successive governments. In Kullu district, 272 voters in Solang village, last village in Kullu valley in the uphill of Manali tourist town, boycotted polls as they did in 2009, pleading that their demand for construction of a bridge remained unfulfilled. In a late night move, as many as 853 voters at Gaad polling station in Anni sub-division in Kullu district also boycotted polls today, pleading that their demand for declaring the area as SC reserved hanged in balance. The case of Gaad villagers is pending in the High Court and the government has given a favourable report, but all pleas to persuade the voters in Solang and Gaad to vote and exercise the NOTA option failed to convince them, said returning officer Kullu, Rakesh Kanwar. Similarly, the voters in Bhadra polling station in Bharmour, boycotted the Lok Sabha poll today in protest against the failure of the successive governments to address their grievances and to initiate development work in the area. Parlong and Manju in Karsog in Mandi district also boycotted polls in protest as the government did nothing for development of the area. The voters in Kalroo in Shahpur and Chakki polling stations in Bhatiyat in Chamba and in Kangra Lok Sabha constituency also boycotted polls in protest on the development ground. Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh's wife Pratibha Singh is seeking re-election from Mandi seat, while BJP's Shanta Kumar is fighting from Kangra seat this time. All pleas by polling parties to persuade villagers fell on deaf ears. The teams told the villagers to exercise the NOTA option if none of the candidates fit into their choice, but they refused to budge, saying they got nothing from the successive governments, said the returning officers. Bhadra polling station (Bharmour) has 116 voters; all boycotted polls. Jasrath has 130 voters, only 2 cast votes, Chaling has 121, Kardang near Keylong has 276 voters, Lapchang has 201 voters, but none cast their vote. Some voters in Karpat village did vote, said DC Lahaul-Spiti, BS Thakur. The voters protested that no candidate came there even during Assembly polls, leave alone the Lok Sabha and their grievances remained unaddressed. State electoral officer Narender Chauhan confirmed the boycott of polls in these polling stations, saying the returning officers tried their best to persuade the voters to cast their votes or exercise the NOTA option, but to no avail. Electoral officials’ plea falls on deaf ears
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Discounts galore for voters
Shimla, May 7 Hotel Nagsons, near old bus stand, also offered 20 per cent discount on rooms for people who cast their vote. Jeevan Ram, a kulfi seller in the vicinity of St. Edwards School, said: “I will not earn any profit today. I have reduced the price of kulfi’s and will only charge the cost and labour charges from voters”. Evergreen Flourist at Subash Chowk, Palampur, announced 20 per cent discount on flowers while Green Bar near old bus stand, Solan, offered 15 per cent discount on drinks. Posters with imprints of “Your vote counts, show your inked finger and avail special discount" were displayed at many places. The owners, who have offered the discounts, say that they want to be partner in creating awareness about the importance of vote and strengthen democracy. Serving Armymen, who used to vote through postal ballot, cast their votes through EVMs. The Headquarters Army Training Command (ARTRAC) made an ardent effort to ensure enrollment of their personnel on the voter list and as a result, a large number of Army personnel, cast their votes with enthusiasm. |
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India’s first voter gets grand welcome at polling station
Kalpa (Kinnaur), May 7 Accompanied by his 92-year-old wife Hira Mani, daughter-in-law Surmadevi and grandson Pradeep, Negi reached the polling station at Government Primary School, Kalpa (Booth No. 50) at 6.55 am. He was accorded a red carpet welcome by the district authorities. Negi was overwhelmed to see the polling staff in traditional Kinnauri costumes. Negi was enrolled at serial No. 123 followed by his wife (124). Incidentally, the polling booth was set up in the school from where Negi had retired after serving for 23 years. This school is among the three oldest schools in Kinnaur districts opened in 1890. Negi appealed to people to vote for nation-building, development and good governance. He exhorted the masses, especially the youth, to vote for the leader with a clean image and credibility. He thanked the government for recognising him and giving him the rare honour of being the first voter. The Kinnaur Assembly segment falls in the Mandi Lok Sabha seat and Negi cast his vote in the Lok Sabha elections for 17th time as he also voted in the Mandi Lok Sabha byelection held in June 2013. Besides, he has cast his vote in all 14 Assembly polls in the state. Negi became the first voter of the country as elections were held on October 25, 1951, in Kinnaur, ahead of other parts of the country which went to polls in February 1952. In 1951, Negi was a member of the polling team and vividly remembers that he cast his first vote at the Shonthong polling station and his polling party had to trek long distances to conduct polling in Purvani Ribba Moarang Nesong over a period of 10 days. Negi was honoured by Kinnaur District Commissioner DD Sharma, who presented him a cap, scarf and memento with inscription “Loktantra ke parv ke hain harkare, Jo apne kartavyon se kabhi na haare, Jinpar har matdata abhiman kare, Shyam Saran Negi ji hai Aardarsh Humare" after he came out of the polling booth. Kinnaur admn honours Shyam Saran Negi
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Living up to its reputation of being the district registering the lowest voter turnout Shimal district recorded a poll percentage of mere 59.24 per cent even though this is almost seven per cent higher than the last Lok Sabha election.
in all four Assembly segments of the district, which has 2,74,602 voters, including 1,33,299 women voters.
Around 62 per cent voter turnout was recorded in Mandi district, while Kullu Assembly segment saw 60.49
per cent turnout, Banjar 60.25 per cent, Manali 64.24 per cent and Ani 64.98 per cent.
Over 65 per cent polling was reported from the Palampur region comprising four Assembly segments of
Palampur, Sulaha, Baijnath and Jaisinghpur. In rural areas, the polling was heavy as compared to urban areas like
Palampur, Baijnath and Paprola. Long queues of voters were seen at many polling stations early in the morning. However, in the afternoon there was less turnout and many polling stations wore a deserted look. In Sulaha and Jaisinghpur areas, women voters outnumbered their counterpart.
Seventy per cent polling was recorded in the Hamirpur parliamentary constituency today. Around 70.70 per cent polling was registered for the Sujanpur Assembly
byelection. Former Chief Minister PK Dhumal, his son Anurag Thakur, who is the BJP candidate from
Hamirpur, and other family members cast their vote at their ancestral Sameerpur village.
Shimla (Rural), the Assembly segment of Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh registered an extremely low turnout of merely 57.58 per cent, while Rohru, the segment represented by Congress candidate for the Shimla Lok Sabha, Mohan Lal Brakta was much better at 66.12, the highest in the district. The segment of Rampur in Shimla, the hometown of Virbhadra registered a better polling of 62.87 as it forms part of Mandi Lok Sabha seat from where his wife is contesting. 
