Shimla Panchayat Polls Record Over 80% Turnout, Kupvi Tops Voting Chart
Shimla district witnessed an enthusiastic response in the second phase of Panchayati Raj Institution elections on Wednesday with an overall voter turnout of 80.68 percent recorded till the close of polling.
According to the official poll status report, out of 1,40,797 voters who cast their votes across 812 polling stations in 149 Panchayats, women voters outnumbered men in several blocks, reflecting strong participation at the grassroots level.
Kupvi block emerged as the highest polling subdivision with an impressive 85.55 percent turnout, followed closely by Theog at 85.52 percent and Jubbal at 81.82 percent. Chopal also recorded heavy voting at 79.57 percent, while Basantpur registered 78.18 percent polling.
Nankhari witnessed the lowest turnout among the blocks at 73.86 percent, while Rohru recorded 82.37 percent and Mashobra 79.79 percent.
Officials said polling remained largely peaceful across the district despite scattered logistical challenges in remote areas. Voters, including women and elderly residents, queued up from early morning to exercise their democratic rights in the hill panchayats.
The polling percentage steadily climbed through the day. By 9 AM, turnout stood at 21.91 percent, which crossed 45 percent by 11 AM and surged to 65.82 percent by 1 PM before finally touching 80.68 percent at the close of polling.
Election officials termed the turnout encouraging and a sign of strong faith in the Panchayati Raj system in rural Himachal Pradesh.
