Ajay Bharadwaj

Chandigarh: The tribal valley of Himachal Pradesh with three constituencies went to polls on Wednesday, even though none of the contesting parties could finalise its election manifesto and set an agenda for voters in the first phase.

The second round of polling for the remaining 65 assembly seats would take place on December 18. Moderate to heavy polling was recorded in the three constituencies — Kinnaur, Lahaul-Spiti and Bhirmaur —where the day temperature varied between four degrees C and 13 degrees C.

While Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti recorded more than 70 per cent voters’ turn out, Bhirmour constituency recorded about 50 per cent voting.

Curiously the highest turn-out of 78 per cent was recorded in the country’s highest polling booth in Hittin village, where 12 of 16 voters turned out to exercise their franchise. Located at a height of 16,000 feet the booth was specially constituted for 18 voters of the village.

Source : DNA