Assembly polls in Himachal Pradesh passed off peacefully yesterday with people braving the cold climate and coming out in large numbers, recording a high voter percentage of 74%.

Polling commenced early in the morning at 08:00 a.m. and continued till 05:00 p.m. and later to accommodate people who had queued up outside polling booths.  People voted cheerfully and with determination to elect a new 68-member strong Himachal Pradesh Assembly as the polling was held in a single phase yesterday.

37 candidates are in fray even as the BJP is trying hard to upturn the applecart of the ruling Congress Govt. led by Virbhadra Singh. Tibetan refugees, numbering 1000, voted in yesterday’s Assembly polls which also saw independent India’s first voter Shyam Saran Negi, who has just turned 100, casting his vote for yet another time in an election.

74% polling happens to be the best polling percentage recorded in the State in any elections as on date. During the 2012 Assembly polls, the polling was 73.5% which has been marginally bettered now. As informed earlier, the counting of votes would be taken up only after 40 days on 18th December along with the counting of votes to be polled in electing a new Gujarat Assembly on 09th and 14th December.