On Friday morning, the counting of votes to elect the Panchayat Samiti and Zila Parishad members will begin. The polling for the Panchayati Raj Institution was carried out in three phases, on 17, 19 and 21 January.
In the third and final phase of the panchayat elections in Himachal Pradesh on Thursday, about 81 per cent of the turnout was registered, according to the state government.In the first phase of the elections, 1,227 panchayats had gone to the polls. In the second phase on Tuesday, the polling took place in 1,208 panchayats.
On the day of counting at the Block headquarters, the result of the election of Panchayat Samiti members was announced immediately after the counting process was over.
In the Lodhi Majra panchayat of the Nalagarh development block in Solan, the highest 94 per cent survey was reported. These elections are fought by the candidates as independents and not by party labels and the overall electoral process.
In Himachal Pradesh, there are around 3,615 gram panchayats, of which 3,583 will be polling, except for 32 in Lahaul-Spiti district of Keylong. The government spokesperson said forty-nine Covid-19 patients and those in quarantine exercised their right to vote.
In view of the polls for the panchayat election, the Himachal Pradesh government declared a public holiday on all three days.
“The Governor, Himachal Pradesh is pleased to declare January 17, 2021. Sunday (if necessary) January 19, 2021 (Tuesday) and January 21, 2021 (Thursday) as a public holiday in Himachal Pradesh on account of the general election to Panchayati Raj Institutions (in the areas of those Panchayati Raj Institutions where the election are scheduled to be held) on the respective dates (in case poll is held),” the HP government had said in the order.
