Himachal Assembly Polls: PM Modi appeals to cast vote

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 9 November appealed the voters of Himachal Pradesh to step out of their houses and vote in large numbers in the state assembly elections.

The Prime Minister took to Twitter and said, "Today is a day of polling in God's land Himachal Pradesh. I appeal all the voters to participate in the celebrations of democracy and cast their votes in large numbers. Urging people of Himachal Pradesh to vote in record numbers.

The polling in Himachal Pradesh for all the 68 constituencies begun at 8 a.m. and will continue till 5 p.m.

Speaking about the Chief Ministerial candidates, Congress leader and incumbent Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh is fighting against the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Prem Kumar Dhumal, two-time Chief Minister of the state, while the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) is contesting 42 seats, followed by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI (M)), which is contesting 14, Swabhiman Party and Lok Gathbandhan Party six each, and the CPI contesting three seats.

The main focus of the BJP campaigning was the corruption, while the Congress hit out at the Opposition regarding the issues of the Goods and Service Tax (GST) and demonetisation.

A total of 50, 25,941 voters are eligible to cast their vote and the polling will take place at 7,525 booths with EVMs and VVPAT.

The counting will be done on 18 December. 

-ANI