Congress and BJP lock horns over Himachal Pradesh
November 09, 2017
The hill state of Himachal Pradesh goes to polls with traditional rivals, the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party locking horns in all 68 constituencies where 337 candidates including 62 MLAs are in the fray.
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, 10 ministers, eight Chief Parliamentary secretaries, Deputy Speaker Jagat Singh Negi, former chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and over a dozen former ministers are among those who have thrown their hat in the ring.
The EVM was replaced but after three votes it again developed some snag. The EVM was being repaired and polling would commence soon, election officials said.
Singh and Dhumal cast their votes at Rampur and Samirpur respectively.
Shyam Sharan Negi (101), the first voter of India, cast his vote for the 15th time in assembly polls at Kalpa in Kinnaur district.
Shimla district recorded the highest polling of 36 per cent. The largest Kangra district recorded 22 per cent voting while Kinnaur recorded 35 per cent polling.
Polling has picked up since noon.
The ruling Congress led by the chief minister and the BJP led with former chief minister Dhumal are contesting all 68 seats while the Bahujan Samaj Party is contesting 42 seats, followed by the Communist Party of India-Marxist 14, Swabhiman Party and Lok Gathbandhan Party six each and the CPI-3.(Agencies)
