Himachal Pradesh logged an approximate polling percentage of 75.6%, as per the Election Commission of India (ECI). Exit polls have predicted that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will again form the government in Himachal Pradesh, but it may turn out to be a tight contest.
The incumbent BJP government is seeking re-election in the State which has alternated power between BJP and Congress for over 30 years now. A total of 412 candidates are in the fray, of which 24 are women.
The counting of votes is starting at 8 am. More than 10,000 security personnel, returning officers, and other support staff will oversee the counting of votes for the Himachal Pradesh Assembly election today The counting will start at 8 a.m. in 68 counting halls spread across 59 locations throughout the State, said the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Maneesh Garg said.
The counting will start with the postal ballot at 8 a.m., followed by EVM counting at 8.30 a.m. The CEO said that subject to the availability of space, a maximum of 14 counting tables and a minimum of eight counting tables will be placed in the counting halls, with a separate table to accommodate nearly 500 postal ballots.
Gujrat, Himachal Polls : Congress keeps fingers crossed, BJP hopes to set new records