Highlights – Himachal Pradesh Assembly Election 2022: Polling concludes in 68 seats; counting of votes on December 8
Himachal Pradesh Assembly Election 2022 Live updates: Voters across Himachal Pradesh queued up outside polling booths on Saturday, November 12, 2022, to elect a new government in state. Polling began at 8 am on a slow note in the hill state but began to pick up as the morning progressed and the winter chill eased a bit. It will continue till 5:00 PM in all 68 assembly constituencies.
The Election Commission has set up 7,884 polling stations, including three auxiliary voting stations in far-flung areas. Of these, 789 are vulnerable booths and 397 critical ones. The highest booth is in Tashigang, Kaza in Spiti area of Lahaul Spiti district at a height of 15,256 feet.
Besides the BJP and the Congress, the Aam Aadmi Party is also trying its electoral luck. It has fielded candidates on 67 of the total 68 assembly constituencies. It’s a crucial test for the BJP hoping to beat precedent and return to power as well as for the Congress looking for electoral revival.
Himachal Pradesh Assembly Election 2022 Live updates: Voters across Himachal Pradesh queued up outside polling booths on Saturday, November 12, 2022, to elect a new government in state. Polling began at 8 am on a slow note in the hill state but began to pick up as the morning progressed and the winter chill eased a bit. It will continue till 5:00 PM in all 68 assembly constituencies.
The Election Commission has set up 7,884 polling stations, including three auxiliary voting stations in far-flung areas. Of these, 789 are vulnerable booths and 397 critical ones. The highest booth is in Tashigang, Kaza in Spiti area of Lahaul Spiti district at a height of 15,256 feet.
Besides the BJP and the Congress, the Aam Aadmi Party is also trying its electoral luck. It has fielded candidates on 67 of the total 68 assembly constituencies. It’s a crucial test for the BJP hoping to beat precedent and return to power as well as for the Congress looking for electoral revival.
Latest Updates
Moderate polling in HP as voters brave cold
From Shimla to the icy heights of Spiti, people across Himachal Pradesh voted on Saturday to elect a new state government. Voting began early this morning on a slow note but picked up as the day progressed and the sun warmed the winter chill.
By 3 pm, 55.65 per cent of the electorate had voted, the Election Commission (EC) said. Polling was scheduled to end at 5 pm.
Voting in Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections concludes.
EVMs and VVPATs being sealed and secured at polling booths in Dharamshala and Shimla
Counting of votes on December 8 pic.twitter.com/PF2wWWhgtD
— ANI (@ANI) November 12, 2022
Seat-wise polling update
The highest polling of 62.75 per cent was recorded in Lahaul and Spiti district, followed by 60.38 per cent in Sirmour and 58.9 per cent in Mandi, the home district of Chief Minister Jairam Thakur.
The high-altitude district of Lahaul and Spiti had recorded 21.95 per cent, the lowest, till 1 pm, but polling was brisk as the sun came out with it recording the highest till 3 pm. The lowest turnout of 46 per cent was recorded in Chamba district till 3 pm.
Seraj in Mandi from where the chief minister is contesting and Sujanpur recorded 65 per cent polling, the highest among the 68 assembly constituencies.
Anni constituency in Kullu recorded a polling of 62.4 per cent, Arki 40 per cent, Churah 34.68 per cent and Dalhousie 38.44 per cent, among others.
51 out of 52 voters voted in the world's highest polling station booth in Tashigang, Himachal Pradesh. 98.08% voter turnout has been recorded. #HimachalPradeshElections
— ANI (@ANI) November 12, 2022
Polling Update
Himachal Pradesh records 55.65 per cent voter turnout by 3 pm, according to Election Commission of India.
People cast their votes
Himachal Pradesh | People cast their votes in Nadaun Assembly constituency, Hamirpur; visuals from polling station 4
I am a first-time voter; feel very excited. I have voted for development: Ankita, a voter#AssemblyElections2022 pic.twitter.com/0453ZyRUhR
— ANI (@ANI) November 12, 2022
Anurag Thakur after casting his vote
"Certainly, according to your call, voters in the state will create a new record by participating in the polling and are going to create a new 'riwaaz' (trend). Warm greetings to you," Thakur, who voted in Mandi with his wife and daughters in Mandi after offering prayers at a temple, said in Hindi.
"We are confident of the BJP's grand victory. We are getting good feedback," he told reporters in Mandi from where he is contesting.
Key constituencies polling update
The highest polling of 41.89 percent was recorded in Sirmour district, followed by 41.17 percent in Mandi, the home district of Chief Minister Jairam Thakur. While the high-altitude district of Lahaul and Spiti recorded the lowest of 21.95 per cent while Chamba saw 28.35 percent voting till 1 pm.
Anni constituency in Kullu recorded a polling of 46.04 per cent, Barsar 45.49 per cent, Jubbal Kotkhai 46.07 per cent, Theog 46 per cent and Rohru constituency recorded a turnout of 46.70 per cent.
The lowest turnout of 21 per cent was recorded in Bhoranj constituency, Rampur with 21.09 per cent and 21.95 per cent in Lahaul Spiti assembly constituency so far.
Voting Turnout Update
Himachal Pradesh recorded a voter turnout of 37.19 per cent in the first five hours till 1 pm on Saturday, the Election Commission said.
The voting started on a slow note with only around 5 per cent polling recorded in the first hour. Till 11 am, 19.98 percent polling was recorded.
At 1 pm, the state recorded 37.19 percent.
37.19% voter turnout recorded in Himachal Pradesh till 1 pm #HimachalPradeshElections pic.twitter.com/pwK6PskHtu
— ANI (@ANI) November 12, 2022
Himachal Pradesh | Voters on their way to polling station Chasak Bhatori in Pangi tehsil of Chamba district#AssemblyPolls2022 pic.twitter.com/JM6aKqN8xn
— ANI (@ANI) November 12, 2022
BJP President JP Nadda On Himachal polls
People of Himachal are aware of their rights&voting right. So, polling is always good here. I see zeal,people want to give BJP another chance.I also see that people love&trust PM Modi&want BJP govt again. I see a favourable atmosphere for BJP: BJP chief#HimachalPradeshElections pic.twitter.com/alIAAHJQRI
— ANI (@ANI) November 12, 2022
What we know so far
Till 11 am, the highest polling of 21.92 per cent was recorded in Mandi, the home district of Chief Minister Jairam Thakur.
Sirmour district recorded 21.66 per cent polling, Solan 20.28 and Kinnaur 20 per cent, according to the EC. Lahaul and Spiti district recorded the lowest polling of 5 per cent in the first three hours.
Top leaders, including Chief Minister Thakur, voted in Mandi along with his wife and daughters after offering prayers at a local temple.
Himachal Congress chief Pratibha Singh and her son Vikramaditya Singh voted in Rampur. Earlier in the day, they offered prayers at Shani temple in Shimla.
Former chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, his son and Union Minister Anurag Thakur voted in Hamirpur along with other family members.
Former Union minister Anand Sharma voted in Shimla while CLP leader Mukesh Agnihotri and his family voted in Haroli, from where he is contesting.
Inputs From PTI
Election Commission Says
Himachal Pradesh recorded a voter turnout of 17.98 per cent in the first three hours till 11 am on Saturday.
Inputs From ANI
17.98% voter turnout recorded in Himachal Pradesh till 11 am #HimachalPradeshElections pic.twitter.com/GsliOpeaNV
— ANI (@ANI) November 12, 2022
Former Himachal Pradesh CM Prem Kumar Dhumal, his son & Union Minister Anurag Thakur and their family cast their votes for #HimachalPradeshElections.
Visuals from a polling station in Samirpur, Hamirpur. pic.twitter.com/D0vgw0ncxY
— ANI (@ANI) November 12, 2022
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi Tweets
"Himachal will vote for OPS, Himachal will vote for employment and Himachal will vote for 'Har Ghar Lakshmi'," Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi.
"Come, vote in large numbers, and make your valuable contribution to the progress and prosperous future of Himachal," the former Congress chief said, appealing to the voters of the hill state.