Dharamsala, Dec 19 (ANI): Voters braved the chill and turned out in large numbers to cast votes for the second phase of assembly elections in Dharamsala on Wednesday amidst tight security.
People queued up in front of the polling booths despite the cold spell to cast their votes.
Vivek Aggarwal, Divisional Commissioner, said all necessary security arrangements were made particularly in the hypersensitive and sensitive polling stations to ensure free and fair polls.
“There are 1,275 polling booths, of which, 284 have been identified as sensitive and 182 have been declared hyper sensitive. We have taken all precautions to avert any law and order problem during the elections. For this purpose we have received police reinforcements from Uttarakhand, the armed forces as well as ITBP (Indo-Tibetan Border Police),” he said.
The voters said that they were casting their votes in the hope of bringing a government that would work for the welfare of the people and development of the state.
“The representatives of the government should be such that people feel safe secure. The government should do something about inflation and unemployment in the state. Every government makes tall promises but does nothing on the employment front. The new government should think about the welfare of the poor and work towards the development of the state,” said Vivek Sood, a voter.
Over 4.47 million people eligible to cast votes will decide the fate of 324 candidates in the fray for the 65 seats in Himachal Pradesh Assembly.
Three remote constituencies located in the high mountains went to polls in the first phase on November 14 before getting cut off following heavy snowfall in December.
Counting of ballots will take place on December 23 and results are expected by afternoon. (ANI)