HP Panchayat polls: Over 80 pc voter turnout in round 2

More than 80 per cent voter turnout was recorded today with women outnumbering men in the second round of second phase of Panchayat elections in 10 districts of the state.
Polling was held in 790 panchayats and was mostly peaceful barring two incidents of blank ballot papers going missing.
"The polling was peaceful and barring two incidents of blank ballot papers going missing, no other incident was reported from any part of the state. The polling in these two Panchayats would be held again," State Election Commissioner T G Negi said.
5,769 polling booths were set up and polling was held from 7.00 AM to 3.00 PM, he said.

4,712 polling booths would be set up for 554 panchayats going to polls in third round on January 5.
Negi said that 29 ballot papers went missing in Badhal panchayat in Jubbal and later 22 ballot papers were recovered, whilein Khameri Panchayat in Rampur area 50 ballot papers were found missing.

An FIR has been lodged and polling would be held again in these panchayats.
About 76 per cent voting was recorded in all five blocks in Hamirpur district and former chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and his son Anurag Thakur were among those who exercised their franchise today.
The women voters outnumber men and long queues of women were seen at the polling booths, Negi said.

Sirmaur district recorded more than 85 per cent polling in elections to 76 panchayats which was followed by Rajgarhblock recording highest voters turnout at 88.15 per cent.
Paonta recorded 86.54 per cent, Shillai 85.10 per cent, Nahan 84.39 per cent, Pachhad 84.10 per centand Sangrah 83.11 per cent.
Counting of votes is in progress and results of Panchayat polls would be declared by tonight, he said.
The votes for Panchayat Samiti and Zila parishad members would be counted on January 5.