HP goes with tradition, Congress returns to power
Eights ministers lost the poll. Jal Shakti Minister Mahender Singh’s son Rajat Thakur also tasted defeat.
Eights ministers lost the poll. Jal Shakti Minister Mahender Singh’s son Rajat Thakur also tasted defeat.
The overall number of postal ballots issued to the employees on election duty increased by nearly 11percent in 2022 as compared to 2017.
As some poll pundits have predicted a neck-to-neck fight between traditional rivals, all eyes are on rebel candidates as they could possibly emerge kingmakers. However, neither BJP nor Congress is taking chances to miss the opportune probability of grab power in the state.
As replies in some cases are awaited, the number is expected to go up.
Chief Electoral Officer, (CEO) Maneesh Garg said here on Friday that 32,177 postal ballots have been received by the concerned returning officers so far, out of 59,728 postal ballots issued to the officials deployed for election duty.
“When the results will come on December 8, the BJP is going to form the government with full majority, the Congress party is only dreaming of forming the government,” said the party’s Himachal in-charge.
The highest polling percentage of 85.25 per cent has been reported from Doon assembly constituency and the lowest of 62.53 per cent from Shimla seat.
According to election officials, the polling was peaceful and no major untoward incident was reported from anywhere in the state.
Though the Election Commission of India (ECI) provided a voluntary facility to 80 plus aged electors to vote through ballot papers at their homes, several aged persons did not opt for that facility and preferred to cast their votes through the electronic voting machine (EVM) at their respective polling station today.
Emotive slogans, publicity material and social media were widely used to arouse public sentiments by the political parties in the fray.