HP: Heavy polling recorded, 80 pc voter turnout in third round

Heavy polling was recorded in the second phase of Himachal Panchayat polls with the third round of the phase today registered more than 80 per cent of voter turnout.
A total of 80.71 per cent polling was recorded in the third round today. Overall voting percentage in the second phase has been registered at 80.15 per cent.
The second phase was held in three rounds on January 1, 3 and 5 in 10 out of 12 districts.
Polling in Kangra district will be held on January 10 and 12 and snowbound Lahaul and Spiti district will go to polls in the month of June.

"Polling was held for 754 panchayats in the third round today andaverage 80.71 per cent voters cast their votes while the overall polling in three rounds was 80.15 per cent," State Election Commissioner T G Negi said.
"Polling was cancelled for Panchayat Samiti member of Bamta in Bilaspur district due to lapse on the part of the polling staff which omitted the name of one of the candidates in the ballot paper.

"Polling would be held in this ward tomorrow and show cause notices have been issued tothe polling officers," Negi said.
As many as 4,712 polling booths were set for the third round and polling passed off peacefully with no untoward incident reported from any part of the state.

Sirmaur district recorded highest polling of86.46 per cent, followed by Solanreported 84.30 per cent, Kullu 83. 23 per cent, Chamba 82.38 per cent, Una 82.08 per cent, Shimla 81 per cent, Mandi 80.80 per cent and Bilaspur 80.33 per cent.
Lowest polling of 70.18 per cent was recorded in tribal Kinnaur district.
Negi said that the counting of votes for Panchayat Pradhans and members is in progress, while the votes of Tikker Zila Parishad ward in Shimla district, comprising 17 panchayats would not be counted in view of the stay imposed by the Court.
The ballots of Panchayat Samiti members and Zila Parishad members, which are different colours, would be separated and the votes of Zila Parishad member would be sealed again while the votes of Panchayat Samiti members would be counted, he added.

Sirmaur district recorded 86.46 per cent polling in the third phaseand highest polling of 89.83 per cent was recorded in the Shillai development block followed by Paonta block with 89 per cent polling.
Pachhad block recorded 87.67 per cent polling, followed by Nahan 88.21 per cent, Rajgarh 84.99 per cent and Sangrah 79.06 per cent.