The turnout rates were 82.97% for women and 76.69% for men. Compared to the 76% turnout in the second phase of the Panchayat elections in 2021, the number increased to 79.79% in the 2026 phase, according to officials.
The election process was smooth, with no incidents reported across the state, noted State Chief Election Commissioner Anil Khachi in a statement to PTI. The highest participation was seen in Kullu district at 85.52%, followed by Sirmaur at 85.16%, Solan at 83.62%, Mandi at 80.96%, and Shimla at 80.68%.
Chamba saw a turnout of 79.99%, while Una recorded 79.73%, Bilaspur at 78.95%, Kangra at 76.29%, Kinnaur at 76.29%, and Hamirpur at 74.94%. The lowest turnout was in Lahaul and Spiti district, which had 69.38%, as per official statistics.
In Ward No 1 of Kangri under Ree Gram Panchayat in Hamirpur district, residents chose to boycott the elections, citing lingering development issues and unaddressed concerns.
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Prior to the election announcement, around 288 voters from Ward No 1 had warned that they would abstain from voting if their demands were not met.
The primary request is to either separate Kangri village (Ward No 1) from Ree Gram Panchayat and attach it to the Khayah-Lohkhariyan Panchayat or create a new Panchayat specifically for their area, as they currently have to travel 25 kilometers to reach the Panchayat Bhawan.
On Thursday, not one individual from that ward attended the polls.
A former ward member stated that due to a lack of facilities, the villagers unanimously decided against voting. They will not take part in future elections until their demands are recognized.
Former Union minister and Hamirpur BJP MP Anurag Thakur, along with family, visited the polling station in Samirpur panchayat to cast his vote in the Himachal Pradesh Panchayati Raj elections, confidently asserting that the trends favor the BJP. He remarked that voters are using this election to express their dissatisfaction with the Congress government in the state.
Thakur encouraged people to engage actively in the elections, emphasizing the importance of Panchayati Raj in a democracy, which reserves 50 percent of seats for women. He voiced hope that the newly elected representatives would foster a new era of development.
Also Read: Himachal panchayat polls Phase 1 records 78.55% turnout; women voters outpace men
Voting began at 7 am, attracting long lines of first-time voters and senior citizens outside polling booths.
Sarita, a first-time voter in the Dhawahan panchayat of Mandi district, expressed, ”I voted for development. Our village needs a library for students to study and improve their prospects. The road conditions are also poor.” A total of 17,30,300 voters, including 8,55,597 women, 8,74,416 men, and 17 from the third gender, were eligible to cast their votes.
The first phase saw 1,293 panchayats vote on Tuesday, achieving a turnout of 78.90 percent. Polling for the remaining 1,274 panchayats in the third and final phase is set for May 30. Results will be tabulated right after the polling, except for the block samiti, zila parishad members, and the four municipal corporations; these results will be revealed on May 31.
Elections for Ward No 2 in Samwal panchayat of Chamba district, previously postponed due to violations by certain officials, are scheduled for May 30, as stated by Surjit Singh Rathore, Secretary, State Election Commission. A total of 10,854 office-bearers have been elected unopposed in the panchayat elections.
The elections utilize color-coded ballot papers — white for ward members, yellow for ‘up-pradhans’, green for pradhans, pink for panchayat samiti members, and blue for zila parishad members.
Approximately 50.89 lakh voters are eligible to participate in the three-phase elections to elect 31,182 public representatives, including 3,754 pradhans, 3,754 ‘up-pradhans’, 21,654 ward members, 1,769 panchayat samiti members, and 251 zila parishad members.
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