PM Modi Urges People to Vote in Record Numbers in Himachal Poll

New Delhi, November 09: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged the people of Himachal Pradesh to come out and vote in "record numbers" for the assembly election underway in the state.

He took his twitter handler and tweeted that, "Himachal Pradesh is polling today. I request every voter to cast vote...."

The polling that began at 8 a.m. will continue till 5 p.m.

The main contest in the 68-seat assembly poll is between the ruling Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, 10 ministers, eight Chief Parliamentary secretaries, Deputy Speaker Jagat Singh Negi, former chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and over a dozen former ministers are among those who have thrown their hat in the ring.

The ruling Congress led by the chief minister and the BJP led with former chief minister Dhumal are contesting all 68 seats while the BSP is contesting 42 seats, followed by the CPI(M) 14, Swabhiman Party and Lok Gathbandhan Party six each and the CPI-3.

A total of 50.25 lakh electorate, including 19 lakh women and 14 transgenders, will decide the fate of the candidates.

The vote count will be held on December 18,2017 along with those of Gujarat elections.