Himachal Pradesh recorded nearly 80 per cent voter turnout in the second phase of Panchayati Raj Institution elections held on May 28, with women voters surpassing men in nine of the state's twelve districts.
Polling was conducted peacefully across 1,276 Gram Panchayats using ballot papers and ballot boxes from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
State Election Commissioner Anil Kumar Khachi stated the turnout was “almost 80 per cent” and exceeded the 76 per cent recorded in the corresponding phase of the 2021 elections, which involved 1,208 Gram Panchayats. Of the 17.30 lakh eligible voters in this phase, comprising 874,416 men, 855,597 women and 17 third-gender voters, approximately 13.74 lakh cast their votes.
Women registered an overall turnout of 82.76 per cent, exceeding the male turnout of 76.47 per cent by 6.29 percentage points. Kullu district had the highest female turnout at nearly 86 per cent. Men outnumbered women voters only in Lahaul-Spiti, Shimla and Kinnaur districts, where male turnout ranged from 70.88 per cent to 80.86 per cent, slightly higher than female turnout.
Kullu led overall polling percentage at about 86 per cent, followed by Sirmaur at 85 per cent and Solan at 84 per cent, while the tribal district of Lahaul-Spiti recorded the lowest turnout at approximately 69.38 per cent. At the local level, Dhela Gram Panchayat in Nalagarh Development Block, Solan district, reported the highest polling at nearly 96 per cent.
The ongoing Panchayati Raj elections are being held in three phases to elect 31,182 representatives, including Pradhans, Up-Pradhans, Ward Members, Panchayat Samiti Members and Zila Parishad Members. So far, 10,854 candidates have been elected unopposed. The first phase, covering 1,293 Gram Panchayats, recorded a 78.9 per cent turnout on May 26. The final phase for 1,274 Gram Panchayats is scheduled for May 30.
Counting of votes for Pradhan, Up-Pradhan and Ward Members began immediately after polling with results expected on the evening of May 28. Counting for 250 Zila Parishad and 1,684 Panchayat Samiti wards will take place on May 31, alongside the announcement of those results.
State Election Commission Secretary Surjit Singh Rathore confirmed that polling proceeded peacefully and noted that polling for Ward Number 2 of Samwal Panchayat in Tissa Block, Chamba district, previously postponed following official violations, will occur on May 30.
Political responses followed voting. Former Union Minister and Hamirpur BJP MP Anurag Thakur, who voted in Samirpur Panchayat, asserted that election trends favoured the BJP and expressed hopes for development under the new representatives. Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur criticised the Congress government, saying the trends showed growing BJP support and accusing Congress of failing to fulfil promises.
In Hamirpur, 116-year-old Khadku Ram from Dashmal Panchayat and 95-year-old Hari Singh from Lalpani Panchayat notably exercised their franchise. However, Ward Number 1 of Ri Panchayat in Hamirpur district saw a voting boycott due to allegations of neglect and lack of development, with villagers demanding merger with another Panchayat or formation of a separate one. Deputy Commissioner and District Election Officer Gandharva Rathore confirmed no voting took place at that polling station.