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.
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
As Editor, Ravinder Makhaik leads a team of media professionals at Hill Post.
Spanning a career of over two decades in mass communication, as a Documentary Filmmaker, TV journalist, Print Media journalist and with Online & Social Media, he brings with him a vast experience. He lives in Shimla.
