New high: Polling percentage 72.25

Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 20

The overall polling percentage in the Lok Sabha elections this time is 72.25 which is 7.80 per cent higher as compared to 64.45 per cent in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and the highest-ever in a parliamentary poll till date.

Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Devesh Kumar said today that 38,01,793 voters cast vote in four parliamentary segments out of 52,62,126. In Mandi and Kangra segments, women turned out in larger numbers than men to cast their vote.

Heavy polling, especially in BJP bastions in most parts of the state, has brought satisfaction among party leaders and cadres, who made claims of making a clean sweep by retaining all four Lok Sabha seats. The high polling has left the Congress worried which still maintains that it will do well in the elections.

The CEO said on the Kangra seat, a total 9,90,758 voters cast vote, which include 4,70,156 men and 5,20,599 women and three third-gender voters. The total turnout percentage in Kangra was 70.49 per cent.

In the Mandi segment, 9,30,562 voters cast vote which include 4,60,850 men and 4,69,710 women and two third gender voters with the total turnout being at 73.39 per cent.

In Hamirpur, 9,71,961 voters, including 4,58,029 men and 5,13,929 women and three third-gender voters, cast vote with total turnout being 72.64 per cent.

In the Shimla segment, a total of 9,08,512 voters, including 4,75,351 men and 4,33,154 women and seven third-gender voters, pressed blue button, with total turnout being 72.65 per cent.

The CEO further said during the elections, the ECI took services of 1,096 micro observers (MO) at 7,730 polling booths, which include seven auxiliary and two snowbound polling stations. This time, 186 model polling and 136 women-managed polling stations were also set up.

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur’s segment of Seraj in Mandi recorded the highest polling at 81.53 per cent. Other segments, which recorded the high turnout, included 79.17 per cent in Nahan, 76.10 per cent in Pachaad (Sirmaur) and 76.55 per cent in Kasauli and 77.44 per cent in Gagret, Una. Naina Devi also registered 79.81 per cent turnout and Kangra Assembly seat 75.03 per cent.

The lowest turnout was in Dharampur in Mandi which is part of Hamirpur Lok Sabha seat as only 62.74 per cent voters cast vote. This was followed by tribal segment of Lahaul Spiti 62.97 per cent. The polling in the urban areas, especially in the capital, was low with the three segments of Shimla at 63.89, Shimla (rural) at 67.73 and Kasumpti at 66.42 per cent, showing less interest among voters.

EVMs airlifted

• EVMs from the snowbound Pangi were airlifted to Chamba
• However, efforts to airlift EVMs from Bara Bhangal in Baijnath of Kangra failed despite two attempts by helicopters Monday morning
• Officials said now the choppers would make two sorties at 6.30 am tomorrow
• EVMs from Kaza were airlifted to Keylong.