Women Lead with High Turnout in Himachal Pradesh Panchayat Elections

The first phase of the Himachal Pradesh panchayat elections witnessed over 78% voter turnout with women voters surpassing men. High engagement was particularly observed in Kullu with 84.43% participation. Elections were halted in specific wards due to issues such as missing candidate names and deaths.

In the opening phase of the Himachal Pradesh panchayat elections, voter turnout reached an impressive 78.55%. Remarkably, women outvoted men by a 6% margin. Voting in 10 of the 12 districts saw more women participating.

Kullu led with an 84.43% turnout. Unfortunately, in certain wards, polls were either cancelled or postponed due to problems like a candidate's name being left off the ballot or the passing of a contestant. The State Chief Election Commissioner, Anil Khachi, assured corrective action for the oversight.

This election cycle also highlighted the empowering presence of women, with Ghanghal Panchayat in Mandi district showcasing all-women election teams. Such initiatives aim to bolster female participation in administrative roles. Among the voters, 113-year-old Manglu Devi from Bilaspur cast her vote, representing the enduring spirit of electoral participation.

The elections across the state, divided into three phases, encompass over 16.5 lakh eligible voters in this phase. Results for gram panchayat members and other positions are awaited, while counting for other categories will conclude by May 31. Additional voting phases are scheduled for May 28 and 30.