Shimla : Voting is underway in Himachal Pradesh’s two assembly segments of Renuka and Nalagarh Wednesday .
Voters began to line up to vote at 8 . A .M . despite a mild chill . Voting will continue till 5 P.M.
Around 35 Per cent people had cast their ballot until 1 P.M. in both the assembly segments , officials said .
Arch rivals BJP and Congress have campaigned hard in both the assembly seats . These by-elections are significant as the state goes to assembly polls in a year from now .
Both the seats fell vacant with the death of sitting candidiates Hari Narain Saini from Nalagarh and Prem Singh from Renuka .
The BJP has fielded Saini’s wife Gurnam Kaur from Nalagarh and the Congress candidate is Lakhwinder Rana .
Prem Singh’s son Vinay Kumar has been fielded by the Congress from Renuka while the BJP’s nominee is Hirday Ram .
A total of 1,20,253 voters will cast their votes. Counting of votes will take place on Dec 4 .
In a 20 year career published widely. He has worked for the BBC, AFP, The Statesman, IANS and the Business Standard . Known for his hard hitting writing and occasional off-beat stories. He lives in Shimla.