SHIMLA, Nov 4 � A record 74.62 per cent of the 46 lakh voters in Himachal Pradesh today exercised their franchise in the Assembly election where ruling BJP and Congress are locked in a virtual straight contest, reports PTI.
After a slow start, polling for the 68-member Assembly picked up as the day progressed and the hill state witnessed a massive turnout.
As per the voting figures till 5 PM, 74.62 per cent polling had been registered in the state and the percentage was expected to go up, election officials said here.
Election Commission Director General Akshay Raut said told reporters in Delhi that the polling was violence-free. The polling figure may cross the previous best of 74.51 per cent registered in the state in 2003 as people waited to cast their ballot
in 200 polling stations even after 1700 hrs, the time of close of poll.
