1st phase of Himachal panchayat polls today; BJP alleges govt interference

Shimla: Voting for the first phase of panchayati raj elections in Himachal Pradesh will be held on Tuesday across 1,293 gram panchayats, with the BJP alleging interference by the Congress govt in the poll process.

Polling will be conducted through ballot papers from 7 am to 3 pm. The elections are being held in three phases — on May 26, 28 and 30 — for a total of 3,745 gram panchayats across the state.

Each voter will cast five separate votes to elect a ward member, vice-pradhan, pradhan, panchayat samiti member and zila parishad member. Results for panch, pradhan and up-pradhan posts will be declared immediately after polling in each phase, while counting for panchayat samiti and zila parishad seats will take place after all three phases conclude. Final results are scheduled to be declared on May 31.

The election commission has appealed to voters to participate fearlessly and reject inducements during the electoral process. A total of 21,678 polling stations have been set up statewide, including 3,554 sensitive and 1,585 highly sensitive booths.

Ahead of polling, a BJP delegation led by state president Rajeev Bindal and leader of opposition Jai Ram Thakur met governor Shiv Pratap Shukla and submitted a memorandum alleging govt interference in panchayat and urban local body elections.

The BJP alleged the Congress govt amended rules related to reservations and election of chairpersons and vice-chairpersons after the poll process had begun to benefit Congress-backed groups. The party also accused the govt of violating the model code of conduct by announcing development funds during election rallies and exerting administrative pressure on elected representatives.