The first phase of polling for Panchayat elections began in Himachal today with people of Lahaul-Spiti district along with tribal areas of Chamba district exercising their franchise.
As many as 250 polling booths were set up for 48,000 odd voters and polling passed off peacefully, State election Commissioner T G Negi said.
About 60 percent voting was recorded till afternoon and the percentage was expected to be high at the end of polling at 3 PM, he said.
He said that the tribal people braved the icy cold winds to cast their ballot in the first phase of the Panchayat elections with voting in 32 Panchayats and election of two Zila Parishads members in tribal andthe representatives were elected unopposed in ten (10) panchayats in Lahaul-Spiti.
The counting of votes for Gram Panchayt started immediately after the close of polling while the counting of votes for two Zila Parishad members would be held on November 28.
