Summary:
Shimla, Nov 12 (PTI) From Shimla to the icy heights of Spiti, people across Himachal Pradesh voted on Saturday to elect a new state government.
It is a crucial test for the BJP hoping to beat precedent and return to power as well as for the Congress looking for electoral revival.
Voting began at 8 am on a slow note but picked up as the day progressed and the sun warmed the winter chill.
By 1 pm, 37.19 per cent of the electorate had voted, the Election Commission said.
Polling will continue till 5 pm in all 68 assembly constituencies.
The highest polling of 41.89 per cent till 1 pm was recorded in Sirmour district, followed by 41.17 per cent in Mandi, Chief Minister Jairam Thakur’s home district.
The high altitude district of Lahaul and Spiti recorded 21.95 per cent.
As voting got under way, people could be seen basking in the sun as they waited for their turn, and some, in the higher reaches of the mountains, trudging through snow to reach polling stations.
In an early morning message to voters, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged them to enthusiastically participate in the "festival of democracy" and register a voting record.
In a tweet, Modi also greeted young voters who will be exercising their franchise for the first time.
The chief minister echoed him and said every vote will help build a prosperous Himachal Pradesh.
Thakur addressed the prime minister in a separate tweet and said there was a lot of enthusiasm among voters.
"Certainly, according to your call, voters in the state will create a new record by participating in the polling and are going to create a new "riwaaz" (trend).