Himachal Pradesh Election 2017: BJP confident on winning 60 seats, decimating Congress
A total of 337 candidates are contesting for power over the 68-member legislative assembly of Himachal Pradesh. Here are the live updates as the state goes to vote today.
BJP confident on winning 60 seats, decimating Congress
As the Himachal Pradesh Assembly polls ended today, the BJP expressed confidence of getting a huge majority, claiming that the tally of the incumbent
Congress would be reduced to single digit in the 68-member House.
"People have given their mandate. The five-year corrupt rule of Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh is going to end. We will get over 60 seats and the Congress tally will be confined to single digit. It will disappear from the state after results are announced," BJP media head Anil Baluni said.
Nov 09, 07:40 PM (IST)
People in #HimachalPradesh are saying ' BJP 60 mein baaki sab 8 mein', which means Congress will go down to single digits: Anil Baluni,BJP Media Cell Chief pic.twitter.com/kRFrfWj1jZ
People in #HimachalPradesh are saying ' BJP 60 mein baaki sab 8 mein', which means Congress will go down to single digits: Anil Baluni,BJP Media Cell Chief pic.twitter.com/kRFrfWj1jZ
Sirmaur district, which faced EVM machine malfunction and delay in start of voting, still has a line of more than hundred voters at its Rajgarh booth . They are being given voting slips so that they can cast their votes, reported News18.
Nov 09, 05:23 PM (IST)
Today's election was by and large peaceful. No untoward incident has yet been reported, except for a dozen of glitches in EVM and VVPAT machines in some polling booths.
Nov 09, 05:15 PM (IST)
Himachal Pradesh polling ends. Only people already standing in queues can vote now.
Nov 09, 05:11 PM (IST)
Till 4 pm Chaupal recorded voter turnout of 70%, Shimla Urban constituency recorded 66%, Shimla Rural 62%, Jubbal Kotkhai 75%, and Nalagarh 80%, as per News18 report.
Nov 09, 05:00 PM (IST)
Voter turnover in Una district till 4 pm: 67.09%
In Kullu district till 3 pm: 66.14%
Nov 09, 04:50 PM (IST)
News18 journalists covering the Himachal Pradesh polls were attacked in Dharamshala post-midnight on Wednesday where a cameraman sustained a fracture in his arm. The channel said the attackers were BJP cadres.
After complaints, the police has lodged an FIR against Dharamshala's BJP candidate Kishan Kapoor's son Sakshat Kapoor, a News18 article said.
Nov 09, 04:38 PM (IST)
64.8% votes have been polled by 4 pm, as per media reports.
Nov 09, 04:20 PM (IST)
Former Himachal Pradesh CM and BJP candidate Prem Kumar Dhumal, his son and MP Anurag Thakur pose after voting along with other family members in Hamirpur.
Nov 09, 04:10 PM (IST)
Polling could not initially be held in Gondla polling booth in tribal district of Lahaul and Spiti, reports PTI.
The EVM was replaced but after three votes, but the new one again developed some issue. The EVM was being repaired and polling was on the way of restarting, election officials had said.
Nov 09, 03:43 PM (IST)
Kinnaur district recorded 57 percent voter turnout till 2 pm, Zee Punjab reported.
Nov 09, 03:31 PM (IST)
With Bihar government forming an alliance with the BJP without an election, BJP currently is in power in 18 states while Congress is ruling in only six states, including Himachal Pradesh.
If Congress loses this election, its hold will further be reduced to five states and BJP will have as many as 19 states under its fold.
Nov 09, 03:03 PM (IST)
Nov 09, 02:59 PM (IST)
Veteran Congress leader Vidya Stokes has cast her vote in Shimla.
Even though she is an eight-time legislator, her nomination paper was rejected by the Election Commission of India.
Nov 09, 02:55 PM (IST)
Himachal Pradesh registered a record amount of 75% votes in 2012 where Congress won.
This time, the State Election Commission said it expected above 85 percent voter turnout, the Quint reported.
Nov 09, 02:32 PM (IST)
By 2 pm, 54.09 percent votes have been polled. Three more hours to go till voting ends.
Nov 09, 02:14 PM (IST)
Around 30 percent voting has been recorded till 1 pm in Himachal Pradesh, IANS reports. Voting will continue till 5 pm.
Nov 09, 01:49 PM (IST)
Kinnaur has recorded its highest voting percentage at 35 percent already by 12pm, Indian Express reported.
Shimla’s urban constituency is facing a four cornered contest. While BJP has fielded three-time MLA Suresh Bharadwaj as their candidate, Congress has denied ticket to former contestant Harish Janartha and instead chosen Harbhajan Singh Bhajji.
Janartha was defeated by Bharadwaj in the 2012 election. But the rebel-Congress leader has nominated himself as an independent candidate from the same seat and has support of a section of the Congress party in the state.
Another contestant is the ex-mayor of the Shimla Municipal Corporation--Sanjay Chauhan who belongs to the CPI(M).
Nov 09, 01:29 PM (IST)
A total of 337 candidates, including 60 sitting MLAs, are contesting for power over the 68-member legislative assembly of Himachal Pradesh.
Here's what happened in the last Himachal Pradesh legislative assembly election in 2012.
Nov 09, 01:16 PM (IST)
With 70,000 jobs for youth per year, Himachal has been kept away from the epidemic of unemployment, widespread elsewhere. Himachal is with progress, Himachal is with Congress. #DevbhoomiWithCongress#himachalpradeshelections
28.6 percent votes have been recorded as being polled till 12pm.
Nov 09, 12:46 PM (IST)
Congress tweeted: "From Human Index to Per Capita Income, all the indicators bespeak the shining vibrancy of Himachal under Congress. The land hails progressive development once again."
Here's a quick look at the key indicators of the state.
highlights
Himachal Pradesh polling ends. Only people already standing in queues can vote now.
Till 4 pm Chaupal recorded voter turnout of 70%, Shimla Urban constituency recorded 66%, Shimla Rural 62%, Jubbal Kotkhai 75%, and Nalagarh 80%, as per News18 report.
64.8% votes have been polled by 4 pm, as per media reports.
Kinnaur district recorded 57 percent voter turnout till 2 pm, Zee Punjab reported.
Himachal Pradesh registered a record amount of 75% votes in 2012 where Congress won.
This time, the State Election Commission said it expected above 85 percent voter turnout, the Quint reported.
By 2 pm, 54.09 percent votes have been polled. Three more hours to go till voting ends.
Around 30 percent voting has been recorded till 1 pm in Himachal Pradesh, IANS reports. Voting will continue till 5 pm.
Kinnaur has recorded its highest voting percentage at 35 percent already by 12pm, Indian Express reported.
28.6 percent votes have been recorded as being polled till 12pm.
Polling was delayed in Sirmaur district by 15-20 minutes because of malfunctioning VVPAT machines.
One of the two polling booths facing EVM problems in Kinnaur, has resumed voting process.
More than ten of the new VVPAT machines and the conventional EVMs have reportedly malfunctioned in the state. As many as 7,525 polling booths have been set up.
While Congress fights anti-incumbency and corruption charges, Virbhadra Singh said the party was confident of getting a majority in the election.
Prem Kumar Dhumal, BJP's CM candidate, told ANI, "We aimed to get 50 plus seats but now that we are receiving so much support from all sections of the society, we expect it to cross 60"
Amid tight security, 13.27 percent votes have been polled in the first two hours of the election, ANI reports.
Above 50 lakh voters are to choose the fate of their state today. Counting will take place on December 18.
EVMs are not working at Jagatsukh and Solang booths In Manali. Additionally, two polling booths at Kinnaur are facing the same problem, reports Times of India.
As many as 37,000 polling officials are on duty today. For law and order maintenance in the state, over 17 thousand policemen and 65 companies of the paramilitary have been deployed in Himachal, as per the Election Commission.
Counting for the single-phase election will start at 8 am on December 18. Counting for Gujarat election will also be held on the same day.
Rs 1.48 cr cash, 3.26 L bulk litre of liquor seized in Himachal
The state Excise Department has seized 3.26 lakh bulk litre of liquor and Rs 1.48 crore in cash from different parts of Himachal Pradesh since the announcement of the poll, a spokesman for the department told PTI.
They seized over Rs 14 lakh cash today itself, he said.
BJP confident on winning 60 seats, decimating Congress
As the Himachal Pradesh Assembly polls ended today, the BJP expressed confidence of getting a huge majority, claiming that the tally of the incumbent
Congress would be reduced to single digit in the 68-member House.
"People have given their mandate. The five-year corrupt rule of Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh is going to end. We will get over 60 seats and the Congress tally will be confined to single digit. It will disappear from the state after results are announced," BJP media head Anil Baluni said.
AIR News| All India Radio says that 74% was recorded till 5 pm.
Sirmaur district, which faced EVM machine malfunction and delay in start of voting, still has a line of more than hundred voters at its Rajgarh booth . They are being given voting slips so that they can cast their votes, reported News18.
Today's election was by and large peaceful. No untoward incident has yet been reported, except for a dozen of glitches in EVM and VVPAT machines in some polling booths.
Himachal Pradesh polling ends. Only people already standing in queues can vote now.
Till 4 pm Chaupal recorded voter turnout of 70%, Shimla Urban constituency recorded 66%, Shimla Rural 62%, Jubbal Kotkhai 75%, and Nalagarh 80%, as per News18 report.
Voter turnover in Una district till 4 pm: 67.09%
In Kullu district till 3 pm: 66.14%
News18 journalists covering the Himachal Pradesh polls were attacked in Dharamshala post-midnight on Wednesday where a cameraman sustained a fracture in his arm. The channel said the attackers were BJP cadres.
After complaints, the police has lodged an FIR against Dharamshala's BJP candidate Kishan Kapoor's son Sakshat Kapoor, a News18 article said.
64.8% votes have been polled by 4 pm, as per media reports.
Former Himachal Pradesh CM and BJP candidate Prem Kumar Dhumal, his son and MP Anurag Thakur pose after voting along with other family members in Hamirpur.
Polling could not initially be held in Gondla polling booth in tribal district of Lahaul and Spiti, reports PTI.
The EVM was replaced but after three votes, but the new one again developed some issue. The EVM was being repaired and polling was on the way of restarting, election officials had said.
Kinnaur district recorded 57 percent voter turnout till 2 pm, Zee Punjab reported.
With Bihar government forming an alliance with the BJP without an election, BJP currently is in power in 18 states while Congress is ruling in only six states, including Himachal Pradesh.
If Congress loses this election, its hold will further be reduced to five states and BJP will have as many as 19 states under its fold.
Veteran Congress leader Vidya Stokes has cast her vote in Shimla.
Even though she is an eight-time legislator, her nomination paper was rejected by the Election Commission of India.
Himachal Pradesh registered a record amount of 75% votes in 2012 where Congress won.
This time, the State Election Commission said it expected above 85 percent voter turnout, the Quint reported.
By 2 pm, 54.09 percent votes have been polled. Three more hours to go till voting ends.
Around 30 percent voting has been recorded till 1 pm in Himachal Pradesh, IANS reports. Voting will continue till 5 pm.
Kinnaur has recorded its highest voting percentage at 35 percent already by 12pm, Indian Express reported.
Shimla’s urban constituency is facing a four cornered contest. While BJP has fielded three-time MLA Suresh Bharadwaj as their candidate, Congress has denied ticket to former contestant Harish Janartha and instead chosen Harbhajan Singh Bhajji.
Janartha was defeated by Bharadwaj in the 2012 election. But the rebel-Congress leader has nominated himself as an independent candidate from the same seat and has support of a section of the Congress party in the state.
Another contestant is the ex-mayor of the Shimla Municipal Corporation--Sanjay Chauhan who belongs to the CPI(M).
A total of 337 candidates, including 60 sitting MLAs, are contesting for power over the 68-member legislative assembly of Himachal Pradesh.
Here's what happened in the last Himachal Pradesh legislative assembly election in 2012.
28.6 percent votes have been recorded as being polled till 12pm.
Congress tweeted: "From Human Index to Per Capita Income, all the indicators bespeak the shining vibrancy of Himachal under Congress. The land hails progressive development once again."
Here's a quick look at the key indicators of the state.