Shimla municipal election records 64.8 percent turnout

Shimla: Being tipped as the precursor to the general assembly election due later in the year, the Sunday poll here saw a good turnout for the Shimla Municipal Election with the officials putting the number at 64.8 percent voters who had cast their franchise by evening when polling closed.

Electoral officer Manish Garg disclosed that of the 79956 registered voters in the civic body as many as 51,235 cast their votes.

Shimla 2012 municipal poll - Photo by Amit

In the 25 wards, the highest voter turnout 74.71 percent was recorded in Tutikandi ward and the lowest 50.83 percent in Totu ward, the election officers said.

Polling opened up early at 7 a.m. and within two hours 13% polling was recorded, which by 11 a.m. had gone upto 28 percent and by 2 p.m. had touched 50 percent.

In all there are 95 candidates in the fray which include 7 for mayors post, 5 for deputy mayors post and 83 are contesting for the 25 ward councillors elections.

Of the 25 wards, 13 stand reserved for women candidates for which there are 43 who are contesting the election.

Besides for the mayor post there are two women candidate and for the deputy mayor post there is one women candidate in the fray.

Election officials said that polling was peaceful and counting would begin early on Monday.

Since elections were started for the corporation in 1986, this is the first time that they are being contested on party symbol basis, with the mayors and deputy mayors election being a direct one.

Counted as one of oldest municipal corporations in the country that was registered in 1851, results of the current elections are expected to have bearing on the autumn general assembly elections later in the year.

Hectic campaigning was witnessed in the entire municipality with the electoral battle finishing as a close triangular one between Congress, BJP and CPI(M).

While Congress campaign did see the participation of two union ministers, Anand Sharma and Virbhadra Singh, chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal led the charge for BJP and CPI(M) roped in its politburo member Sitaram Yechury.

No          Ward Name        Votes         Cast       Percent

1               Bhrari                  2155        1462      67.84
2              RulduBhatta      3610       2276      63.05
3              Kaithu                  2561       1761       68.76
4              Annadale             2695      1820       67.53
5              Summerhill        2704       1911        70.67
6              Tutu                     3563        1811        50.83
7              Boieluganj          4202       2883      68.61
8              Tutikandi            2309       1725       74.71
9              Nabha                  2516        1811        71.98
10            Fagli                      2739       1796      65.69
11             Krishnanagar     3513        2430      69.17
12            Ram Bazar           3300       2196      66.55
13            Lower Jakhu        2541       1608       63.28
14            Jakhu                    2285       1473       64.46
15            Benmore               1840        1127        61.25
16            Engine Ghar        2620        1703       65.00
17            Sanjauli Chowk  2849        1800      63.18
18            Dhalli                    2786        1913       68.66
19            Chamyana            3227        2291      70.99
20            Malyana               4010         2452     61.15
21            Kasumpati           4425         2477      55.98
22           Chota Shimla      6125          3317        54.16
23           Patyog                    4992         2897      58.03
24           Khalini                   3626         5443      67.37
25           Kalnog                    2763         1852      67.03

Photo: Amit

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