Polling for the second phase of elections to the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) will be held across Himachal Pradesh tomorrow, with 1,276 gram panchayats going to the polls amid expectations of a higher voter turnout due to favourable weather conditions.
As many as 17.30 lakh voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in the second phase, including 8,74,416 male voters, 8,55,597 female voters and 17 voters categorised as others. The State Election Commission has stated that all necessary arrangements have been put in place to ensure free, fair and peaceful polling across the state.
Unlike the first phase of polling, which was conducted under intense heat wave conditions, the weather during the second phase is expected to remain comparatively pleasant. According to the Meteorological Department, light to moderate rain is likely at several places across the state. Officials believe the cooler conditions could push the polling percentage beyond the 78.8 per cent turnout recorded in the first phase.
Polling will be conducted from 7 am to 3 pm, and every voter will cast five separate votes — for ward member, vice-pradhan, pradhan, Panchayat Samiti member and Zila Parishad member. To avoid confusion, ballot papers for each post have been assigned different colours. White ballot papers will be used for ward member elections, yellow for vice-pradhan, green for pradhan, pink for Panchayat Samiti member and blue for Zila Parishad member. Voters will be allowed to cast their vote using any of the 16 identity documents approved by the Election Commission.
Meanwhile, the State Election Commission has ordered fresh polling in Ward No. 2 of Gram Panchayat Samwal in Tissa development block of Chamba district after procedural violations were reported during voting. According to the commission, the presiding officer allowed some voters to cast votes with companions but failed to obtain the mandatory declaration forms from the accompanying persons, compromising the sanctity of the process. Fresh polling in the ward will now be held on May 30, while counting and declaration of results will take place on May 31.
In another irregularity, counting in Gram Panchayat Banah Dhini of Pachhad development block in Sirmaur district was suspended after a ballot box meant for the Zila Parishad election was mistakenly swapped with a panchayat election ballot box. The Commission said counting in the panchayat would now be conducted under police protection.
