Himachal sees 77% voting in phase 1 of panchayat polls

Shimla, Jan 17 (IANS) The first phase of Panchayati Raj elections in 1,228 gram panchayats in Himachal Pradesh were held peacefully with the overall percentage at 77.50 per cent, election officials said on Sunday.A total of 123 Covid-19 patients and isolation voters cast their votes by following the standard operating procedures.The highest voter turnout was 94 per cent in the gram panchayat of Rihada in development block of Naggar in Kullu district, an official said.The counting of votes for Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti will be held on January 22 at block headquarters.The official said 103-year-old Shyam Saran Negi, the first-ever voter in independent India, cast his vote in at Kalpa of Kinnaur district.The second phase of election for 1,208 panchayats will be held on January 19 and the third and last phase on January 21.
--IANS vg/kr