Himachal Pradesh Polls: Voting Begins; Will HP Keep Alternate Government Traditions Or Give Another Chance To BJP?

The voting for the Himachal Pradesh elections has begun, with a two-pronged contest between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress. In the hill state, over 55.92 lakh voters will decide the fate of 412 candidates.

The upper areas of Himachal Pradesh have received new snowfall, lowering the temperature by several notches. 140 polling booths are snowbound in the tribal districts of Lahaul and Spiti, Kinnaur, and Chamba.

A total of 30,000 security personnel, including 67 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), have been deployed throughout the state to ensure the peaceful conduct of the election.

The state has 7,884 voting locations, with 7,235 in rural areas and 646 in urban areas. Polling will continue until 5:30 p.m. today, and votes will be counted alongside Gujarat on December 8.

The ruling BJP has expressed confidence in returning to power based on performance, while the Congress hopes that voters will continue the history of alternate governments.

In the 2017 assembly elections, the BJP won 44 seats, the Congress 21, two were won by independents, and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) gained one seat by fielding candidates in 11 assembly divisions.

In its manifesto, the opposition Congress promised the restoration of the previous pension scheme, 300 units of free electricity, the establishment of a commission for the youth to look into their issues of education and job creation, as well as financial aid of Rs 1500 to women.

Meanwhile, the BJP is vying for a second term, promising to adopt the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), 33 percent reservation for women in government employment, five new medical institutes in the state, and cycles for girl students in classes 6 to 12.

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